Brendan Rodgers is looking to bolster his attacking line as he chases Champions League football and has lined up the Ukraine international after missing out on Mohamed Salah

By Paul Clennam

Liverpool have begun negotiations with Dnipro over a deal for Ukraine international Yevhen Konoplyanka.

Brendan Rodgers is keen to take the opportunity to add to his squad before the January transfer window closes on Friday, with the Reds firmly in the mix to challenge for a top-four finish.

Dnipro are hoping to secure a fee of €24 million for winger Konoplyanka, who hit the headlines in England following his terrific long-range strike against the Three Lions in a World Cup qualifier back in 2012.

Liverpool are, however, reluctant to pay such a lofty fee and are looking to strike a deal around the €15m mark as they attempt to secure a signing late on in the window having missed out on Mohamed Salah to Chelsea.

Speaking after watching his side’s 4-0 thumping of Merseyside rivals Everton, Rodgers expressed his desire to seal a “major signing” before Friday’s deadline.

He told reporters: “I think we will hopefully do something over the next couple of days.

“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.”

Despite reports again linking Thomas Ince with a return to Anfield, Goal understands that the Merseysiders are not currently interested in the 21-year-old, who has been granted permission to leave Blackpool on loan in January.

The Liverpool manager, who oversaw a 4-0 victory against rivals Everton on Tuesday, hopes to bolster his squad before Friday’s deadline after missing out on Mohamed Salah

Brendan Rodgers expects Liverpool to add a “major signing” to their squad before the January transfer window closes on Friday.

The Anfield outfit quickly got over the disappointment of missing out on Chelsea new-boy Mohamed Salah by boosting their hopes of Champions League qualification with a 4-0 victory over local rivals Everton on Tuesday night.

Yet Rodgers is still determined to bring in an additional player, with reports of a late bid for Dnipro’s Yevhen Konoplyanka, and admits he has been frustrated by the Reds’ inactivity in the window so far.

“I think we will hopefully do something over the next couple of days,” the Liverpool boss told reporters.

“I saw some headlines after Monday’s press conference in terms of the manager being angry with the club – nothing is further from the truth.

“We are not just going to get the players we want to get in for a number of reasons.

“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.”

Reflecting on the thumping win against Everton, Rodgers added: “I think all wins are important, but especially against your rivals and psychologically it was a big win and can reiterate the confidence and belief in the squad.

“This was a massive game. I think we have shown all season we are going to be in contention for fourth place.”

The striker missed a penalty that would have seen him complete his hat-trick and was disappointed to be substituted, but his boss and captain were delighted with his contribution

Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard hailed Daniel Strurridge after the striker scored twice in the 4-0 Merseyside derby victory over Everton at Anfield.

The England man netted two goals is as many minutes to put the result beyond doubt before half-time, with Gerrard having opened the scoring with a header from a corner.

After Luis Suarez had added a fourth on the break, Sturridge was given the opportunity to score a hat-trick from the penalty spot but blazed his effort into the Kop.

He showed his frustration at missing the spot-kick and then at being taken off with around 20 minutes to go, but Rodgers was keen to focus attention on the forward’s all-action display.

“It was a brilliant individual performance from Daniel,” the Reds boss told reporters. “His two finishes were sublime and he was outstanding in the game.

“He’s always a threat, he can score in every single game he plays in and normally does. He was outstanding in the game.”

Sturridge was clearly upset at being replaced, but insisted after the match that he was annoyed at his own performance rather than his withdrawal, and Rodgers says that it was much ado about nothing.

“He was just still frustrated after the penalty,” the Irishman explained. “He apologised to the group.

“You shouldn’t disrespect anyone, in particular the supporters and your team-mates. But he hasn’t done that, he was just frustrated and was desperate to get on the scoresheet again.”

The former Swansea boss was also keen to highlight the influence of Gerrard, after the Liverpool captain scored his eighth goal in Merseyside derbies and offered Sturridge the chance to take the penalty to seal his hat-trick.

“His influence in these games is wonderful. He organises the team and scored a goal. He’s such a generous man.

“A local guy in a derby, to give away a penalty [to Sturridge] shows the mark of the man that he is. He led the team and was outstanding.”

Gerrard himself admitted that he was the one who urged Sturridge to take the spot-kick.

“I’ll take responsibility for that, I’ve scored a hat-trick against Everton and wanted Daniel to experience that feeling,” he told BT Sport.

“Daniel was magnificent, he absolutely destroyed them first half and the third goal killed Everton, it knocked the stuffing out of them. 

“Then we knew we could hit them on the break and it worked a treat.”