Liverpool FC will look to finalise the £6m signing of Sevilla's Luis Alberto this week.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is set to become the Reds' third signing of the summer, though the ECHO understands a fee is yet to be agreed with the Spanish side.
Liverpool have tracked Alberto's progress closely during a loan spell with Barcelona's B team last season, and believe his versatility - he can play anywhere across the forward line, or as an advanced midfielder - and potential mark him out as an ideal signing.
The Reds are aware that the player is willing to come to Merseyside, and with Barcelona having passed up the chance to make his loan move a permanent one, are now free to negotiate with Sevilla over the fee.
The Spaniards want around 8m Euros (£6.8m) for the player, but Liverpool anticipate that can be negotiated down to £6m in the next few days. They remain confident a deal will be completed.
Liverpool also believe they are closing in on the signings of Simon Mignolet and Tiago Ilori, with movement expected on both fronts this week.
Sunderland goalkeeper Mignolet has emerged as a major target in recent days, and though the clubs are still some way off in terms of their valuations of the Belgian international, a compromise worth around £9m is expected to be struck.
A similar situation exists with Sporting Lisbon defender Ilori, with the Portuguese side asking for in excess of £6m for the 20-year-old. Liverpool have so far offered around £3m, but expect to make progress on that front, though the player is currently on duty with Portugal's U20 side at the World Cup in Turkey.
A deal to bring Shakhtar Donetsk star Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Anfield, however, is likely to take a little longer. The ECHO revealed on Monday that the Reds will face a fight to land the Armenian, with a number of top European clubs also monitoring his situation.
Mkhitaryan is valued at £20m, and the initial noises from his camp have been promising. The Reds, though, view the 24-year-old as an "ambitious" target, and hope the absence of European football at Anfield next season will not be a hindrance to any deal. Mkhitaryan is understood to have flown to the Ukraine on Monday to speak with Shakhtar officials about securing a move away from the club.
Source: Liverpool Echo
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