Liverpool Ready to Launch Bid for Schalke Winger Max Meyer

Liverpool are reportedly considering a move in signing Max Meyer from Schalke during the summer transfer window.

The Metro reports that the Premier League runners-up are ready to table an £8m bid for the 18-year-old. It also suggests that the club's scouts have been keeping a close watch on Meyer's performances which has prompted the Reds' manager Brendan Rodgers to make an approach.

The attacking midfielder has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at the Veltins-Arena since making his Bundesliga debut on 16 February, 2013. After making four more appearances till the end of the 2012/13 season, Meyer went on to make 41 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring seven goals and contributing four assists in the process.

Rodgers is said to be ready to formally table the bid before the weekend, hoping that Jens Keller's side could be persuaded to sell their talented youngster. The report also claims that the Reds are willing to pay the entire amount up front along with a percentage of the sell-on fee in addition to the bonus payments should Meyer's performances help Liverpool win silverware in the future.

During the January transfer window, Chelsea too were reportedly interested in signing the German U19 international. But Meyer went on to commit his future to Schalke and signed an extension till 2018, quashing all reports of his departure mid-season.

Meyer, who can also play as a winger on both sides, was named among the 30-man provisional squad by Germany manager Joachim Low for the World Cup. The 18-year-old made his first senior appearance against Poland last month.

However, his name was among the seven players that were axed from the 23-man final list for the tournament in Brazil. Following the World Cup snub, Meyer has been on duty with the German U19 team as captain for the Elite round of the U19 European Championship.

He scored two goals in three matches as Marcus Sorg's side netted nine goals, to finish on top of Group 5 with maximum points to progress into the main tournament, which begins in Hungary on 19 July.

Meyer will undoubtedly be a great addition to Rodgers' ambitions to add silverware to Liverpool's trophy cabinet but the Schalke academy product would want assurances of first team opportunities if he is to be convinced to make the switch to Anfield this summer.