Liverpool
FC are set to launch a £12million bid to sign Schalke centre-back Kyriakos
Papadopoulos.
The Reds
have identified the 21-year-old Greek international as their No 1 target to
replace Jamie Carragher.
Papadopoulos
missed the second half of the Bundesliga season after undergoing surgery on his
left knee back in December but has now recovered and Liverpool have no concerns
over his long-term fitness.
Manchester
City, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid have also been linked with the highly-rated
6ft defender but the Reds are ready to act fast in the hope of winning the
battle for his services.
Physically
strong, comfortable in possession and dominant in the air, Papadopoulos has
jumped above Swansea City's Ashley Williams and Ajax's Toby Alderweireld on the
club's wish list of centre-backs.
The ECHO
understands Liverpool are no longer interested in Williams with the Welsh
club's £12million price tag for a player who turns 29 in August leading to them
pursuing other options which provide better value.
As well as
making their move for Papadopoulos, the Reds will also look to tie up a deal
for Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Ilori.
The
20-year-old Portugal youth international centre-back is viewed as one for the
future, while Papadopoulos would be able to come in and make an immediate
impact in the Premier League.
Liverpool
have been tracking Ilori for months and hoped he would be available for around
£1.5million but having established himself in Sporting's first team towards the
end of the campaign his value has increased.
It is
likely to take a bid of around £3million to convince the cash-strapped
Portuguese outfit to sell.
Liverpool
are also interested in Manchester City defender Kolo Toure.
The
32-year-old is out of contract this summer and the Reds intend hold talks with
him over a possible free transfer with Rodgers keen to add experience to his
squad.
Papadopoulos
started his career at home town club Svoronos Katerinis before signing for
Olympiacos in 2007.
When he
made his first-team debut at the age of 15 he became the youngest player to
every play in the Greek league.
He earned
rave reviews for his performances for both Olympiakos and Greece Under-21s and
in the summer of 2010 he moved to Schalke for around £2million.
During his
three years in Germany his stock has continued to rise across Europe and he
helped them reach the last 16 of this season's Champions League.
Back in
August, Zenit St Petersburg had a £16m offer for Papadopoulos accepted but the
player rejected the chance to join the wealthy Russian club and penned a new
deal until 2016.
Schalke
finished fourth in the Bundesliga last weekend to qualify for the Champions
League but once again they are willing to sell Papadopoulos and Liverpool
believe the Greece international would jump at the chance to make the switch to
Anfield.
