Rodgers still keen to pull off Kon deal

KOP BOSS IN NEW £12M BID FOR UKRAINE WINGER

LIVERPOOL will move to tie up a £ 12million deal for Yevhen Konoplyanka this week – and could even make a shock bid for Joleon Lescott.

The Reds were frustrated when they tried to snap up Ukraine winger Konoplyanka, 24, from Dnipro in January.

The Ukraine outfit refused to do a £ 20m deal minutes before the deadline – leaving the Kop side in the lurch.

But Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has kept up his interest in Konoplyanka and wants to make him his first summer signing.

Tottenham are also admirers, while Man United and Paris St Germain are interested.

Shock

But Liverpool are certain the wide- man wants to move to Anfield and are keen to push the transfer through as quickly as possible.

Rodgers is also considering a shock move for former Everton man Lescott.

The centre- back is available on a free transfer after his Man City contract expires at the end of this month.

The 31- year- old has been linked with Aston Villa, West Ham and Bursaspor but Rodgers wants more steel and options in his defence.

Daniel Agger ( above) is set to move on after being snubbed as last season’s title push reached a head.

Rodgers also has doubts over Martin Skrtel, while Mamadou Sakho has failed to convince despite an £ 18m fee from PSG last summer and Kolo Toure could also move on.

Lescott could command big wages, but Rodgers believes the ex- England man provides good experience and could prove a bargain.

The Reds are also closing on a deal for Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm as back- up to first- choice Simon Mignolet. And Rodgers is exploring the chances of snapping up Spain winger Pedro from Barcelona as he strives to make a mark in the transfer market this summer.

The Kop boss said: “Our work has started already.

“We had a threehour recruitment meeting, so there is certainly no complacency. “We’re hungry to succeed here. As much as we have had a good season, we want to go one better next season if we can.

“There is certainly no complacency. You can’t take your eye off the ball.

“This is an ever- evolving league and it gets better every season.

“We’re in a league where there are not just British players – this is a league that is full of world- class players.” GO FOR JO: Liverpool are hoping Lescott will give a move to Anfield the

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