Liverpool are on the brink of sealing an £11.75million deal for Olympiacos left-back Kostas Tsimikas.
The Reds are yet to agree personal terms with the Greece international, but that is not expected to present a major obstacle to the completion of the club’s first signing of the summer.
With Jurgen Klopp in the market for a back-up to Andy Robertson, Liverpool had first moved for Norwich defender Jamal Lewis.
However, the relegated Canaries' insistence that they would not budge on their £20m valuation of the Northern Ireland defender blocked any hopes of a deal.
Liverpool’s initial bid of £10m plus a sell-on clause was rejected out of hand and, although discussions over a £12m offer took place, it was eventually decided not to follow through.
The champions’ recruitment staff considered Lewis a perfect fit in terms of ability and character, while the player had shown a clear desire to make the move to Anfield.
But Norwich’s refusal to consider bids below their hefty valuation meant a deal always remained unlikely.
As such, they have pressed ahead with an £11.75m deal for Tsimikas, which was thrashed out by club officials this week.
Lewis and Tsimikas featured alongside Real Madrid’s Sergio Reguilon on a list of potential targets which did not include previous Liverpool target Lloyd Kelly.
The Reds had been keen on Kelly prior to his move from Bristol City to Bournemouth last summer, but were unhappy with the manner in which his decision to switch to the south coast was communicated and so did not look to revisit the deal.
