Liverpool set to net attacking star Yevhen Konoplyanka from Dnipro
LIVERPOOL managing director Ian Ayre was in the Ukraine last night looking to close a deal for Dnipro attacker Yevhen Konoplyanka before the transfer window slams shut tomorrow.
By: Paul Joyce
Published: Thu, January 30, 2014
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Ukrainian Yevhen Konoplyanka has scored eight goals for the national side in 35 games Ukrainian Yevhen Konoplyanka has scored eight goals for the national side in 35 games [GETTY]
The Anfield club was hoping to see off interest from Premier League rivals Tottenham in Konoplyanka, 24, who would cost in excess of £15m.
Despite the clinical dismantling of Merseyside rivals Everton on Tuesday night, manager Brendan Rodgers has remained keen to boost his team’s creativity in order to underpin their Champions League challenge.
Ayre flew to the Ukraine yesterday to lead the negotiations as Liverpool reacted to the disappointment of being gazumped by Chelsea for Basel winger Mohamed Salah last week by moving onto a fresh target.
Konoplyanka, 24, can operate in a variety of attacking positions, on both flanks and behind a striker, and caught the eye for Ukraine during their World Cup qualifying games with England.
He scored a stunning long range strike in a 1-1 draw at Wembley in September 2012 and then gave Kyle Walker a torrid evening when operating on the left wing as the rematch ended 0-0 in Kiev 12 months later.
Dnipro, coached by former Spurs manager Juande Ramos, have been back in the Ukraine applying for visas for their Europa League match with Tottenham next month and are due to go to Spain today to continue a training camp following a break in their domestic season.
Konoplyanko played in a friendly against Videoton last Saturday which Dnipro won 6-1. He scored the second goal and had a hand in another four.
The player’s father, Oleg, hinted a deal was in the offing and said: “I do not want to say specifically but the information about a transfer to the English club is true.
“He can change club later this week. We do not consider offers from Ukraine.”
Although Liverpool are in need of reinforcements in central midfield, Rodgers wants to be able to influence matches by using his substitutes and the arrival of Konoplyanka would allow him to rotate the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling more often.
The arrival of Konoplyanka would add to an attacking armoury that fired the imagination in the 4-0 win over city rivals Everton with Daniel Sturridge scoring twice and Luis Suarez grabbing his obligatory goal after Steven Gerrard had opened the scoring.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/foot...attacking-star-Yevhen-Konoplyanka-from-Dnipro