Liverpool are interested in bringing Wesley Sneijder to Anfield - but only if the Inter Milan midfielder agrees to take a massive pay cut.
The Holland international will leave Italy during the current transfer window after being frozen out at Inter and he's stalling over an offer from Galatasaray as he favours a move to the Premier League.
The Reds have yet to make an official approach for Sneijder but the player's representatives are aware of the club's interest.
Boss Brendan Rodgers is a big admirer of the 28-year-old and believes he would be a world-class acquisition to his Liverpool squad.
However, one major stumbling block is Sneijder's salary. He earns an eye-watering 6.5million euros a year (£5.4million) after tax in Italy. In the UK that is the equivalent of a basic wage of £200,000 per week.
With Liverpool having slashed their inflated wage bill over the past year and offered more performance-related contracts there is no chance of them offering anywhere near that figure.
However, if Sneijder lowers his demands in a bid to realise his dream of playing in England then the Reds will look to hold talks.
Inter are desperate to get Sneijder off their wage bill and have agreed a 7.5million euros (£6.3million) transfer fee with Galatasaray.
The Turkish side are willing to pay him £100,000 per week after tax but he's dragging his heels over a move to Istanbul.
Galatasaray president Unal Aysal wants an answer by this weekend but Sneijder has made it clear he won't be rushed into making a decision on his future.
"I am considering my options," he said.
"It's not a question of money. I have time to decide what to do and where to go before January 31."
Sneijder, who was a World Cup finalist with Holland in 2010, started his career at Ajax before moving to Real Madrid for 27million euros in 2007.
Two years later he went to Inter for 15million euros and in his first season in Italy he helped Jose Mourinho's side win both Serie A and the Champions League.
However, he has been hampered by injuries over the past two seasons and fell out with the club's hierarchy earlier this term after rejecting their request to take a pay cut.
Sneijder, who is under contract with Inter until 2015, hasn't played since September and needs a fresh start in order to rekindle his international career.
Source: Liverpool Echo
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