Yahoo Sport 
Liverpool transfer news as Reds to step up Joao Pedro talks amid pursuit of 'next Lionel Messi'
It's claimed Liverpool is planning a move for Brighton striker Joao Pedro, and will look to start negotiations with Brighton from January.
The 23-year-old has started this season impressively, scoring four goals and registering three assists in just 591 minutes of Premier League football, and has been viewed as one of the best young forwards in England for a few years now.
It is reported by Brazilian outlet UOL that Liverpool has been monitoring Pedro for five years and that his profile - being a goalscorer who also involves himself in build-up play - appeals to new head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool is said to already have held exploratory talks over a deal to sign Pedro, but the Reds are set to accelerate their interest amid potential competition in the Brazilian forward from Manchester United. It is claimed that both Erik ten Hag and Dan Ashworth were largely behind United's interest in Pedro, so it is unclear whether the Red Devils remain keen given both men have left the club over the last couple of months.
Meanwhile, a senior Liverpool scout was reported to be in attendance at the San Siro on Wednesday night to keep an eye on Red Star Belgrade's highly rated teenager Andrija Maksimovic. It is reported by Mozzart Sport that Paul Goldrick, Liverpool's scouting manager for Italy, Switzerland, Serbia and Croatia, was tasked with reporting back to the Reds on whether Maksimovic, who has been dubbed 'Red Star's Messi', could be worth a punt.
Maksimovic only turned 17 earlier this year but has already made several appearances for Serbia and has figured in all but one of Red Star's Champions League games this season. Eintracht Frankfurt, Juventus, Inter Milan, Brighton, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle have all been linked with Maksimovic, but Red Star is yet to receive a concrete proposal for its bright young star.
