Club Chief Says Dnipro Cannot Stop if United Meet Yevhen Konoplyanka's Release Clause

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk executive director Andriy Rusol has revealed the Ukrainian club will not be able to prevent Liverpool target Yevhen Konoplyanka from joining Manchester United in the summer transfer window.

Brendan Rodgers's side were keen on securing the services of the 24-year-old in January, only for the deal to collapse on deadline day.

However, that has not stopped the Reds from making an approach for his services as Liverpool are linked with a move in landing the Ukrainian international.

United have now joined the race in signing Konoplyanka and Dnipro chief claims the club will not be able to stop the winger from leaving his current employers, if United meet his £12m release clause.

"Officially, there's a specific amount for which we don't have the right to not release Konoplyanka," the Express quoted Rusol as saying.

"If Manchester United offer favourable conditions and agree terms with Konoplyanka and pay us the same compensation, no one can do anything."

Rusol's comments come just over a week after Dnipro sporting director Andrey Stetsenko admitted it would be difficult for the Ukrainian club to hold on to their player beyond the summer transfer window.

"Our scouts are working to find his replacement. Sooner or later Konoplyanka will leave Dnipro. We know that English, Spanish and German clubs are monitoring the situation and are interested in the player. But we have had no offers," Stetsenko said.

"His contract has a buyout clause worth €15m for foreign clubs. For Ukrainian clubs the buyout is more."

"Konoplyanka spoke to me and said that if he did not have offers from foreign clubs in the future it would not be a problem. He would stay with us with pleasure and continue to play for Dnipro."

A move to United for Konoplyanka would be a major blow to Liverpool and also Tottenham Hotspur as the latter had made contact with Dnipro over possibility of a transfer to White Hart Lane this summer.