The side have been strongly linked with Konoplyanka.
As the January transfer window draws to a close Liverpool are set to hit the market and make a £16m offer for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk winger Yevhen Konoplyanka, according to reports in the Telegraph.
The deal emerges after manager Brendan Rodgers admitted after the 4-0 Merseyside derby victory over Everton on Tuesday that the club are looking to make a major signing before Friday.
“I think we will hopefully do something over the next couple of days,” the Northern Irishman was quoted by Sky Sports.
“Hopefully we can have a major signing before the window shuts and if we can do that we will be set up for the remaining games.”
Rodgers has been left frustrated in his pursuit of targets this month after missing out on attacking midfielder Mohamed Salah to Premier League rivals Chelsea.
It means that the Reds have done no business during the current window and with time running out they will submit an offer for Konoplyanka.
Many may raise an eyebrow at the mention of the 24-year-old’s name as it is not one perhaps that well known to fans from the bigger leagues in Europe.
England supporters may well remember Konoplyanka after the wide man gave a mesmerising performance against the Three Lions for Ukraine in the World Cup qualifiers.
It was a similar story against France in the play-offs as the attacking midfielder gave Newcastle United right-back Mathieu Debuchy a torrid time in the first leg.
Konoplyanka’s father Oleg has admitted that talks with an English club have taken place.
“I do not want to say specifically, but the information about the transfer to an English club – it’s true,” Konoplyanka senior told Tribuna.
“We do not consider offers from Ukraine.”
Generally the Dnipro star operates from the left flank – but can also play on the right and in the No.10 role behind the striker – and is best suited to a 4-3-3 formation.
With less than a year remaining on Konoplyanka’s current deal, manager Juande Ramos may well be open to cashing in on the Ukrainian ace.
Rodgers may have to adapt the Merseyside outfit’s tactics once again to accommodate the winger however, with the team playing a more narrow formation this season due to a lack of wide players.
Wing-backs have been utiliised at times, with Coutinho behind the two forwards and a narrow midfield consisting of Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson and Lucas Leiva.
Yet with Lucas out for two months with a knee injury, the midfielder’s fellow countryman has been pushed out to the left and Raheem Sterling has gotten more game time.
Therefore either Luis Suarez or Daniel Sturridge could be asked to play a slightly deeper role so that Konoplyanka can join them in a three-man attack.
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