Liverpool are tracking Dynamo Kyiv star Andriy Yarmolenko, according to the Express. The 23-year-old Ukraine international scored 11 times from 27 league games last season and has already scored twice, in six games, this campaign.

Brendan Rodgers will have to fight off Serie A and European giants AC Milan for Yarmolenko's signature but may have the upper hand in this fight. Sky Italia believes the Reds have opened proceedings with a €23m bid for Ukraine star.

Andriy Yarmolenko
Reuters

Rodgers is believed to be keen on signing at least one more attacking player before the end of the summer transfer window. The former Swansea City boss was counting on either Brazilian international Willian or Armenian star Henrikh Mkhitaryan but the former has signed for Premier League rivals Chelsea and the latter has opted for last season's Champions League runners-up, Borussia Dortmund.

Liverpool do have one major problem in attempting to convince Yarmolenko to come to Anfield - the lack of European football. Milan have qualified for the Champions League this season and face the prospect of a hugely exciting and challenging group stage - they have been drawn in the group of champions, alongside reigning La Liga champions Barcelona, reigning Scottish champions Celtic and reigning Dutch champions Ajax.

By contrast, the Reds have not even qualified for the UEFA Europa League, which Kyiv have managed. The Ukrainians have been drawn in Group G, with Belgian club Genk, Austrian side Rapid Wien and Swiss minnows FC Thun for company.

What could help Rodgers though is that Milan have already had one bid turned down for Yarmolenko. And given that Real Madrid star, and former Milan icon, Kaka has confirmed his desire to leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer and the San Siro club's chief executive, Adriano Galliani has hinted at the Brazilian's return, Liverpool do have some reason to be confident.

"Milan made a €20m bid for Yarmolenko, but the only way to tempt Kiev's president is to make an offer that he can't refuse. My client obviously wants to play for a club like Milan. He would like to follow in the footsteps of Shevchenko. Premier League clubs are also interested," Mikhail Gulordava, Yarmolenko's agent, has been quoted as saying.

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