Liverpool transfer news: Martin Skrtel edges closer to exit after Reds accept Fenerbahce's £5.5m offer

Liverpool are set to lose their second central defender in the space of a week after the Reds accepted Fenerbahce's £5.5m ($7.8m) offer for long-serving defender Martin Skrtel. Fellow centre-back Kolo Toure has already departed the club after he was released following the expiry of his contract.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Turkish outfit have won the race to sign the out-of-favour defender and are set to complete the move in the coming days. Liverpool are said to have given permission to the club to discuss personal terms with the player.

The 31-year-old defender had a disappointing domestic season, which saw him struggle for form and fitness throughout the campaign. After starting the season as the first choice, he fell down the pecking order following an injury. Skrtel made just four appearances since the turn of the year with Jurgen Klopp preferring to pair Toure alongside Dejan Lovren, when Mamadou Sakho was unavailable.

The Slovakia international is likely to find it hard to get regular game time at Anfield next season with Joel Matip joining the ranks from Schalke. This has prompted the former Zenit St Petersburg defender to bring to an end his eight-year spell with Liverpool and look for a move away.

Skrtel's agent Mithat Halis had confirmed interest from Fenerbahce for his client, but also admitted there was interest from Germany and a lucrative offer from the Chinese Super League.

"There are three clubs that want Martin. Fenerbahce have been interested for four years but there are also offers from China and Wolfsburg also want him," Halis said, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

Skrtel, who has made 320 appearances for Liverpool following his arrival in 2008, is currently with Slovakia at the 2016 European Championships in France and led them to a 2-1 win over Russia on Wednesday (15 June) giving them a chance to progress to the round of 16.