Sky Italia are reporting that Liverpool are closing in on Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia, with the player reportedly set on snubbing a loan move to Sampdoria in favour of an Anfield switch.
One of their journalists, Fabrizio Romano, has even claimed that Liverpool have entered into talks with the player, with manager Jurgen Klopp desperate to avoid the kind of scenario that saw him field no fewer than 9 inexperienced second string players against Exeter in the FA Cup yesterday.
#Ranocchia situation now: Liverpool just started talks, Sampdoria made a loan bid. But Inter prefers to wait Liverpool, if they'll bid #LFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2016
Italian newspaper Gazzetta have reported that Liverpool have had a bid of £6.7million accepted for the defender, and have claimed that major progress will be made in the “early hours” of Saturday morning, after Klopp has travelled back to Anfield after the Exeter match.
Ranocchia was originally keen on remaining at Inter Milan, but the Italian club seem happy to cash in on him in order to fund January moves for other targets.
Torino and Norwich originally led the race for his signature, but the player is thought to have had his heart set on Liverpool ever since Klopp first contacted Inter regarding his availability.
The Spanish press have reported that Sevilla and Valencia have also shown late interest, but the Estadio Deportivo suggests the club have “accepted defeat” now that Liverpool are in talks for his services.
Meanwhile, the Metro are reporting that Liverpool have stolen a march on their Premier League rivals and moved into pole position to sign Alexandre Pato this winter.
Last summer Manchester United and Chelsea were reportedly vying for his signature, whilst last month reports from both Brazil and The Sun claimed that Tottenham were closing in on his signature.
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But now it is thought Liverpool lead the race for the £11.1million rated Brazilian striker.
The striker has scored 38 goals in 95 appearances for his current club, Sao Paulo, where he has been on loan from the last two seasons from Corinthians.
And, with Klopp growing increasingly frustrated with both Cristian Benteke and Daniel Sturridge, he could be parachuted in to play in a Brazilian strike-force with Roberto Firmino.
January transfer window closes in
And finally, Klopp himself has put to bed any rumours that Lazar Markovic will be returning from his loan move to Fenerbache in January.
Liverpool’s squad has been riddled with injuries and currently appears exceptionally thin, but that is not enough to convince Klopp to request for him to rejoin the club.
In fact, he was quoted by Team Talk as saying, “I do not think it is possible that we can take him back”.
That leaves the 21-year-old’s future at the club looking increasingly bleak, with the midfielder now seemingly behind youngsters such as Ryan Kent and Joao Teixeira in the Anfield pecking order.
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