Liverpool hope to sign Chelsea target in the summer

Liverpool are becoming increasingly confident that they can pip Chelsea to the signature of James Rodriguez, provided they secure Champions League football, reports the Daily Mirror. 

The Colombia international is expected to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, with the Blues keen to sign the attacker in a bid to bolster their offensive ranks. 

However, the Reds are hoping to lure Rodriguez to Anfield, but any deal is dependent on Liverpool playing in the Champions League next season. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side are currently fourth in the Premier League, four points ahead of Manchester United in fifth, coming into the final stretch of the season and are expected to secure a top-4 finish this term. 

25-year-old Rodriguez has fallen out of favour with head coach Zinedine Zidane and while Real Madrid are keen to offer the player in exchange for Eden Hazard, Chelsea are unlikely to sanction the deal, which puts Liverpool in pole position to secure his services if he does look to move to the Premier League. 

Rodriguez is contracted at the Bernabeu until June 2020, while Real Madrid are hoping to bring in £65m from any potential sale in the summer.

For more stats on James Rodriguez, click here to view his WhoScored player page