Liverpool transfer rumour: Reds closing in on completing club-record signing for Porto star Yacine Brahimi

Liverpool are edging closer towards completing a deal for FC Porto star Yacine Brahimi. The Reds already confirmed the signing of Mainz goalkeeper Loris Karius on 25 May, Wednesday, and the talented winger could follow the German to Anfield.

Porto lost to Braga in the Portuguese cup final on penalties and A Bola claims the 26-year-old has played his last game for his current employers. They claim the Reds' interest to be strong and are willing to match the player's asking price.

Brahimi has €60m (£45.6m, $67.1m) release clause in his contract and Liverpool are ready to play a club-record fee for the attacker. He can play on the wide positions or in the attacking midfield role and has scored 21 goals for them in two seasons in Portugal.

Jurgen Klopp was keen on reuniting with Mario Gotze at Anfield as the duo worked together at their former club, Borussia Dortmund. The World Cup winner with Germany has one year left on his contract at Bayern Munich and was strongly linked with a move to the Merseyside club.

However, Gotze has played down any reports linking him with a move to the English outfit and even his father confirmed the Bayern midfielder will not join the Reds. With Liverpool missing out on signing the German international, they have turned their attention to Brahimi.

The Algerian international's form has seen him attract interest from the Premier League. Another Portuguese publication, Record, earlier reported that Liverpool's arch-rivals Manchester United were looking to make an approach for him in the last January transfer window. However, the deal did not take shape and he continued with Porto until the end of the season.

Liverpool are closing in on completing a deal for him and should they meet his asking price, they will break the earlier club-record of £35m, which they paid to Newcastle United in signing striker Andy Carroll in 2011.