Yevhen Konoplyanka [Sevilla]

[kev776]

SSN: Closish!!!

[Shaggy]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/10611185/Yevhen-Konoplyankas-Liverpool-medical-aborted-as-deal-for-Ukraine-winger-hits-complications.html

Yevhen Konoplyanka's Liverpool medical aborted as deal for Ukraine winger hits 'complications'

Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre continues negotiations as Dnipro president attempts to convince highly-rated 24-year-old to stay

Konoplyanka's Liverpool medical called off as deal for Ukraine winger hits 'complications'

By Chris Bascombe10:30PM GMT 31 Jan 2014

Liverpool’s efforts to secure a deal for Ukrainian Yevhen Konoplyanka dragged into the final throes of deadline day.

Ian Ayre, the club’s managing director, spent a third day in negotiations with Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

Talks went on until 4am on Thursday, continuing throughout yesterday as Dnipro multi-billionaire president Ihor Kolomoyskyi tried to convince the international to remain at his club.

Liverpool thought they made a breakthrough with a deal worth £12 million, significantly less than earlier presumed, but manager Brendan Rodgers admitted to “complications” in finalising the transfer.

A plan to fly the 24-year-old to England for a medical was aborted, Liverpool instead trying to arrange for assessments in Ukraine.

“We are still in the middle of building here and growing the group and I feel we need a number of players,” said Rodgers. “January is a very difficult market to do that but I’m very happy with the group that I have. Every manager would like more players to freshen up – it always helps and gives that extra motivation for players. It is about options, it is about having depth and quality.”

Liverpool turned to Ukraine after deciding Egyptian Mohamed Salah was overpriced at £15 million.

Rodgers’s side head to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday seeking to build on their impressive Merseyside derby victory.

England assistant Ray Lewington saw Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling impress, with Rodgers believing both will be firmly in the frame for a World Cup call-up.

“Raheem Sterling has barely had a mention for the performance the other night,” said Rodgers. “He’s been outstanding in the last number of games. He was so dangerous and for a young player, just turned 19, his tactical awareness of the game was very good. He was outstanding. I’m sure he is looking at Jordan and thinking he is a player who is improving every time he sees him. Jordan is an outstanding talent and is getting better. I’m sure Ray would have gone away really impressed by those two players.”

Rodgers is calling on Henderson to maintain his level of improvement by adding more to his repertoire.

“I still think Jordan has bits to improve, he needs to get more goals. He understands that, we speak about that, there is no pressure on him, as he makes contributions in other areas. The areas that we want to improve his game is to get more goals, we need more from that area of the field.”

[kingfunk]

Where there is will...

[Exiled_red]

Close-ish, according to Sky.

But the window slams shut very soon...

[kev776]

SSN : Just **** off.

[Patricks_Berger]

SSN says deal still alive

For those not also peeving on Natalie Sawyer

[Gibbo]

Kono is closeish apperently according to SSN.

[calvoboy]

Close-ish, according to Sky.

Jim was sure it was a done deal then when he handed over - far too much excitement for a "someone told me a while ago it was close-ish but I haven't heard anything since".

[Boogs]

[Lecter]

Surely we would have called it quits if there was no chance to complete the deal - but maybe no one has a clue?

In any case, it's not going to hamper our chances of finishing 4th this season. We've still got a handful of players to come back from injury and a wee bit of an easier run in, so it's still looking good.

Ayre is probably too busy drinking champagne and banging renters to worry about pulling out of any deals

[kev776]

Window has SLAMMED shut

[Leyton388]

[Paddy]

Exactly, we aren't desperate. It's a lot of money. We need to invest it in other places. Our front line has not been under much scrutiny compared to our defence and defensive midfield. It's purely a signing we want based on missing out on others. Not a priority, for that money anyway. It would be nice, don't get me wrong, but if we lose 4th it will be due to weakness in midfield and defence, and certainly not attack.

[The_weatherman]

There has been talk of pitch forks and sackings and whatnot, but I think those who feel there is something wrong about the negotiations have not gone over the top in any criticism. I feel it can be tiresome to hear that if I, or others, think dealings or something else is going wrong, it's knee jerk.

Just had to put it out there. I feel the transfer strategy is poor and we are slow in dealing with clubs and IMO our priorities have been wrong these past two windows.

[Daffy Duck]

Well either they've already done it or they'll tell us otherwise in the next few minutes?