Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers told media after his side’s 4-0 demolition derby of Everton on Tuesday night that he was hopeful of making a “major signing” before the transfer window closes this week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0EK2LC2Jbc
“We are working together and hopefully we can have a major signing in before the window closes,” Rodgers told reporters.
It has since emerged that Ukrainian winger Yevhen Konoplyanka is the man on Rodgers’ radar.
Konoplyanka would be a great signing for #LFC. Clubs in talks but time is running out and fee would be £15m plus
— Ben Smith (@BenSmithBBC) January 29, 2014
Konoplyanka, 24, can play on either side – usually used on the left, cutting inside onto his right foot. He caught the eye against England when he scored against them at Wembley last year in an impressive performance.
The Guardian’s Tor-Kristian Karlsen writes of the player:
The Ukrainian winger is perfectly suited for the much-favoured 4-3-3 formation and a similar performance against France will attract even more admirers with his eye-catching one-on-one abilities and strong running capacity.
Konoplyanka is seemingly an alternative to Mohamed Salah, who the club missed out on signing when he joined Chelsea at the weekend.
My genuine opinion is that Konoplyanka is more of a finished article than Salah. That would be reflective of the price you would pay for him
— John Bradley (@JBcommentator) January 29, 2014
He would add depth to the club’s wide attacking options and likely signal a continued run for Philippe Coutinho in a more central role.
The Daily Mail write that the fee could be as much as £20 million, profiling Konoplyanka as:
Comfortable on either wing, Konoplyanka is more about touch but has speed and a superb range of passing. He can also play just behind the strikers.
Liverpool have until Friday night to finalise a deal.
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