Liverpool are set to try again in their attempts to sign the highly rated Schalke 04 centre-back Kyriakos Papadopoulos, according to reports on Monday.
The Reds were linked with the Greek international defender for some time earlier this summer, but eventually priced out by the Bundesliga side’s asking price of £19million.
Having secured the services of veteran Kolo Toure for the new season at Liverpool, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers will be keen to bring in a world-class centre-back to partner Daniel Agger in the heart of the Reds defence.
The Daily Express say Liverpool are “primed to resurrect” their interest in Papadopoulos with an improved £13million bid.
Reports surfacing on the continent suggest that Rodgers tracked Papadopoulos last season, but was put off by his injury problems.
The ‘reports surfacing on the continent’ the Express surface too are most likely to be this one, from Italian football site Tuttomercatoweb, who say Rodgers is readying a €15million bid for the 21-year-old.
The Daily Star also pick up the story today:
Tuttomercatoweb claims Rodgers has now decided the former Olympiacos star is worth going in for and is ready to restart negotiations.
The north west club will have to pay around £13m to secure his services, who is regarded as a star of The Miners.
However, Liverpool may face a battle to sign Papadopoulos with Schalke having made the final qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League for the 2013/14 campaign.
Schalke will be hoping to hold on to their 6ft centre-back, who has won 16 caps for his country, as they look to challenge Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen for the top honours in Germany.
This week Rodgers allowed goalkeeper Pepe Reina to join Napoli on loan, following the signing of Simon Mignolet earlier this summer.
On Monday morning Reina released a heartfelt letter to Liverpool fans explaining his departure and thanking them for their support down the years.
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