The Ukraine midfielder is keen on a move to Anfield and the Reds are looking to secure a late deadline day deal for the Dnipro star despite tense negotiations with his club

By Jonathan Birchall

Liverpool remain hopeful of securing a late deadline day move for Yevhen Konoplyanka despite ongoing negotiations with his club Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Goal understands. 

The Reds opened negotiations after Ian Ayre flew out to Ukraine earlier this week but have spent much of Friday struggling to agree a fee for the 24-year-old winger before Friday’s 11pm deadline. 

However, club sources insist the Anfield outfit are refusing to admit defeat in their pursuit of the the left-sided attacker, despite Dnipro looking to secure a sale for as close to their £20m valuation as possible.

Konoplyanka’s Stockholm-based agent Oliver Cabrera told Goal that a move was looking “very unlikely” earlier on Friday afternoon but insisted that the transfer hadn’t collapsed completely.

The Reds have a delegation based in Ukraine who are looking to hammer out a deal for Konoplyanka, with the player understood to be very keen on a move to Anfield. 

Liverpool are desperate to force the move through after being gazumped by Chelsea in their atempts to sign Mohamed Salah from Basel earlier this week.

Tottenham pulled out of the race to sign Konoplyanka after Tim Sherwood had concerns over how well the Ukraine international would adapt to the Premier League

“I think we will hopefully do something over the next couple of days,” said Rodgers earlier this week.

“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.”