Liverpool Close in on Signing Yevhen Konoplyanka

Liverpool are on the brink of making a late January addition in the form of Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk winger Yevhen Konoplyanka after manager Brendan Rodgers revealed the club were hoping to make a "major" signing in the twilight of the transfer window.

After primary target Mohamed Salah joined Chelsea on Sunday the Reds have reportedly wasted little time in starting negotiations with Dnipro representatives and head of recruitment Dave Fallows is understood to have travelled to Ukraine to thrash out a deal for Konoplanyka.

Following Liverpool's 4-0 win over Everton which strengthens the club's assault on the fourth Champions League place, Rodgers admitted the club were likely to make their first addition of the window this week.

"I think we will hopefully do something over the next couple of days," he said.

"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."

Ukraine international Konoplyanka scored against England during World Cup qualification and would represent a coup for Liverpool in the final days of the window.

Father Oleg Konoplyanka has admitted a deal to take his son to the Premier League is in the offing, despite refusing to specify the destination.

"I do not want to say specifically but the information about a transfer to the English club is true," he told Tribuna. "He can change clubs later this week. We do not consider offers from Ukraine."

With the Ukrainian transfer window set to open on 31 January, Dnipro will have a month to replace their prized asset, who is expected to join Liverpool for £12m before the end of the window.

Liverpool lead a group of four clubs in pursuit of the final top four spot and trail leaders Arsenal by just six points and Ian Rush says a new face at this stage of the season would be a huge lift to everyone connected with the club.

"If Brendan can get someone in I think it would be a great boost for, not just the supporters, but for the players as well to keep them on their toes," Rush said.