Liverpool Set to Embark on Summer Battle with Arsenal for Barcelona Forward Pedro

Liverpool are preparing a move for Barcelona forward Pedro, according to the Mirror.

Brendan Rodgers has been handed a sizeable amount to spend in the summer and the former Swansea man is looking to get his business done before the World Cup so that he can prepare his squad for the rigours of Champions League football next season.

The Reds have already approached Barcelona for a possible transfer and have been given the green light to lodge a bid, subject to acceptance.

Pedro is a versatile forward who can play on the wings or as the main man up front alongside Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge and add more impetus to an already devastating Liverpool attack.

He is a proven winner, having won the World Cup with Spain and the Champions League with Barcelona. He will bring the much needed winning mentality to the Liverpool squad who threw away the title to Manchester City, after failing to hold on to a three-point lead with only three games left in the season.

Pedro is among a host of players alongside Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez who will have their future decided in the summer, with Barcelona planning a major rejig of their squad before the next season.

The Reds have also been linked with a move for Sanchez but the Chilean is being closely monitored by Juventus who are close to securing a deal with the forward.

Liverpool will face competition from Arsenal, who are also eyeing the Spaniard and have earmarked him as the answer to their problems up front.

The Gunners are in the market for a striker to provide cover for Olivier Giroud, who has cut a lonely figure at times this season, and increase their goal count. The top two teams in the league scored over 30 goals more than Arsenal's tally of 68.

However, the only problem stopping the move is Barcelona's insistence to wait for the World Cup to end, which will allow them to assess his performance and slap a suitable price for his transfer.