Manchester United enter race alongside Liverpool to sign Benfica winger Eduardo Salvio

Liverpool are reportedly close to completing the signing of Benfica winger Eduardo Salvio, according to the Liverpool Echo.

The Reds are said to be in negotiations with the club and the report claims that a deal could be done within a matter of days, as the Portuguese club's president Luis Felipe Vieira has flown to England to hold talks with the Merseyside club.

Salvio has been impressive for the Primeira Liga champions this campaign scoring 13 goals in 38 appearances and this has prompted Liverpool to make an early move to sign the winger, who has a £40m release-clause in his contract.

Brendan Rodgers has admitted that the Merseyside club need marquee signings in the summer to take them back to challenging at the top and with the future of Raheem Sterling remaining uncertain, the former Swansea City boss has decided to act fast.

It is claimed that Benfica's president has arrived with Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes to negotiate a deal with the winger being made available to potential buyers at a cheaper cost than his £40m buyout clause.

Benfica are looking to balance their books and will need to sell top players to do that, and hence Salvio and Nicolas Gaitan have been made available for transfer.

Meanwhile, according to Portuguese newspaper Record, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have also entered the race to sign the Argentine international winger.

This will come as a big blow to Liverpool, who looked to have stolen a march on their rivals, but will now have to contend with two teams, who can offer more money as well as Champions League football next campaign.

However, Salvio's injury, which he suffered on the final day of Benfica's league campaign, has made the two wary and they will only pursue his signature once he is cleared of any major damage.