Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Jese Rodriguez and Andre Ayew Rumours

Liverpool are linked with swoops for Real Madrid star Jese Rodriguez and Swansea City attacker Andre Ayew as the club prepares for an assault on the top four of the Premier League.

Spanish newspaper Marca (h/t Joe Rimmer of the Liverpool Echo) reported Real are prepared to let the youth product exit the Spanish capital and that the Reds face opposition from Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain for his services.

L’Equipe led with PSG's interest in the forward on Friday, per freelance football writer Andrew Gibney:

Real coach Zinedine Zidane has refused to be drawn on whether Jese will remain with him for the season ahead.

According to AS (h/t Football Espana), the Blancos manager said after the 3-1 International Champions Cup loss to PSG on Thursday: “Jese’s future? I don’t know. Today we had a game and he has just played. We’re working. I can’t say anything more.”

Jese has plummeted down the pecking order in recent times, and starts have been rare for the forward.

The 23-year-old made 28 appearances for his club in La Liga last season, but 21 of those came from the substitutes' bench, according to WhoScored.com. Despite his lack of minutes, Jese scored five goals and provided six assists.

Here is the player in action for Madrid:

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is also targeting Ayew, who was one of the surprise packages of the 2015/16 campaign.

Per the Essex Chronicle (h/t Richard Amofa of the Daily Telegraph), West Ham United are hoping to capture the Swans attacker for £16 million but Liverpool also want the player in their ranks.

However, sports broadcaster Jim White said the rumours of Ayew's departure are wide of the mark:

Ayew proved to be a standout talent for Swansea last term and a constant menace in the penalty area.

He would blend perfectly with Daniel Sturridge at Liverpool and would also be capable of tracking back in Klopp's energetic formation.

Jese needs a stage to prove himself on, and Anfield would allow him to display his worth as one of Europe's elite young players.

He would benefit from working with a constructive coach such as Klopp and would certainly see more game time under the German in the Premier League than he does in Spain.