Pool in £16m Konoplyanka talks

Liverpool are holding talks with Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk over the potential signing of winger Yevhen Konoplyanka.

Sources have said Liverpool are “testing the water” to see if Dnipro are willing to sell now as the 24-year-old winger was initially identified as target for the summer.

Contrary to reports the Reds head of recruitment Dave Fallows has not travelled out to Dnipropetrovsk and managing director Ian Ayre is believed to be handling negotiations, although not in Ukraine.

However, with the transfer window closing tomorrow night, it may prove a task too far to push through a deal which would likely cost Liverpool £16 million.

However, the Reds have been given some hope that the transfer remains a possibility after the Ukraine international’s father Oleg said there was a potential deal in the offing.

“I do not want to say specifically but the information about a transfer to the English club is true,” he told Ukrainian media outlet Tribuna.

“He can change club later this week. We do not consider offers from Ukraine.”

Having lost out on long-term target Mohamed Salah after the Egypt international opted for Chelsea, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said he was still keen to make an addition before the window shuts.

There has been growing discontent among fans that no progress was being made to strengthen a squad which is severely depleted by injuries despite being in a battle to secure a top-four finish.

“I think we will hopefully do something over the next couple of days,” said Rodgers after beating Everton 4-0 in Tuesday’s 222nd Merseyside derby to maintain their grip on fourth place in the Premier League.

“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.”

Daniel Sturridge scored twice that the Toffees but has admitted his failed attempts to score a hat-trick left team-mate Luis Suarez “fuming”.

The England international missed a penalty which would have completed his treble and then later found himself so focused on trying to score he completely ignored his strike partner in a much better position in front of goal.

That prompted a good few minutes of verbal complaint from the visibly unhappy Uruguay international before Sturridge was substituted by Rodgers, which provoked a mild show of petulance from the 24-year-old.

Sturridge apologised to his team-mates in the dressing room and was instantly forgiven and he believes that team ethic will stand them in good stead as they seek to secure a top-four spot.

“Luis was obviously fuming — I think everyone was fuming with me and I was fuming with myself,” said the England forward, whose two goals against Everton took his tally to 15 for the season.

“You could see I was disappointed with missing a penalty at the Kop end but it was more important we won the game and everyone was happy.

“I am disappointed not to score a hat-trick but at the same time we won 4-0 at home against Everton and I can’t be too hard on myself.

“Somtimes you score, sometimes you get a hat-trick, sometimes you don’t and it wasn’t the night for me.

“We wanted to put on a performance and work hard as a team and we are delighted with the victory.

“It is about the team. I keep saying it but it is about the boys working hard as a team and if we do that we will get results.

“The boys give me the licence to do what I do, we work tirelessly as a unit and that is what it is all about — just being out there as a team and enjoying every moment as a team.

“There are 15 games to go and we’ll take every game as it comes and work hard as a team and see where we are at the end of the season.”

A miserable night for Everton was compounded by an ankle injury sustained by striker Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku was carried off on a stretcher after colliding with team-mate Gareth Barry as they tried to prevent Gerrard’s goal. The Toffees got a reprieve yesterday when it emerged the Belgian striker is likely to be out for “weeks rather than months” with the injury.

“There is no ligament damage and the injury is not as bad as we first thought,” manager Roberto Martinez said. “It will be a case of weeks rather than months.”