Liverpool have flown to Brazil for talks with top centre half Lucas Beraldo about a dramatic £20million move.
Reds negotiators met with São Paulo star Beraldo, 19, after a game last week and hope to persuade him to join.
Jurgen Klopp needs to sign a fresh player for the position and could swoop as early as January if a price can be agreed.
Liverpool have been on the trail of under-20 cap Beraldo for months but have taken it to the next level with a face to face summit.
Left sided Beraldo has been with Sao Paulo since he was a kid and has emerged as a first team regular recently.
Liverpool could offer him a quick route into their side and the fact he can also qualify to play in Europe next year is also a plus.
read more football news
The Merseysiders want to move fast in case rivals come in with better bids and they are keen to get the player on their side before an auction starts.
Beraldo isn’t the only Brazilian youngster Klopp’s side are chasing.
They have also been linked with a move for Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade.
The 22-year-old was instrumental in his side’s Copa Libertadores triumph last week.
Most read in Football
After he was asked specifically about a move to Liverpool and the German manager, he told Spanish publication AS: “I follow overseas games a bit and I know that their work is exceptional.
“Without a doubt he is a great coach – very intelligent and successful. But at the moment my coach is [Fernando] Diniz, a person I appreciate a lot off the field and who understands my style of play. I know how much I have grown in the field under his direction.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
