Liverpool battle Borussia Dortmund for signature of Sporting Lisbon keeper Rui Patricio

Liverpool are reportedly tracking Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Patricio, and had scouts monitoring the player earlier in April.

The Portuguese international, who is contracted to Sporting until the summer of 2018 will be allowed to leave the club and the Reds can sign him for a fee of around £10.7m ($16m) in the summer, according to Tutto Mercato Web.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to sign a goalkeeper to either challenge or replace the sometime errant Simon Mignolet. The Belgian has come under some harsh criticism over the last couple of seasons for various errors and the boss is keen to bring in some competition to keep the stopper on his toes.

Brad Jones is the number two at Anfield but has hardly featured and it is believed he will be released at the end of the season to make room for Patricio, who is the Northern Irishman's preferred choice.

But Liverpool will not have an easy run at securing the 'keeper's services, as Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund have also made their interest known in securing his signature.

The report claims that, despite being contracted to the Portuguese club until 2018, Patricio could be keen to move abroad to experience another league.

However, the 'keeper has refused to add fuel to the speculation and made it clear he has no plans for the future as he lives his life a day at a time.

Patricio said, as quoted by the Express: "I only think day by day. I've no huge plans for the future, I live one day at a time."