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Liverpool FC target Yevhen Konoplyanka has been described as the best Ukrainian player since Andriy Shevchenko.

The Reds are hoping to tie up a deal for the 24-year-old before the January transfer window shuts at 11pm on Friday.

Liverpool have opened talks with Konoplyanka's club Dnipro for the attacker who is valued at over £15m.

International broadcaster John Bradley, who covers the Ukrainian League, says it will be money well spent if a deal can be struck.

Yevhen Konoplyanka: All you need to know about the Liverpool FC target

Bradley has watched Konoplyanka's rise through the ranks at Dnipro and his increasingly impressive performances for the Ukrainian national side.

Liverpool have turned to the pacy winger after missing out on Mohamed Salah last week to Chelsea.

But Bradley believes the Reds would be signing a more proven player in Konoplyanka.

"He is a classic, old-style winger," said Bradley.

"He works really hard and looks to get the ball at his feet.

"He gave Kyle Walker a torrid time when he played for Ukraine against England and he has done the same in the Europa League and the Ukrainian League."

Salah has burst onto the scene in the last 18 months or so but this boy has been doing for the Ukrainian national team for four years.

"He is more the finished article.

"He is the best Ukrainian player of his generation and the best Ukrainian player since Shevchenko.

"I've rated him for a long, long time. It was probably back in 2009 that he first made his mark for Dnipro."

Bradley says Shakhtar Donetsk, Dynamo Kiev and Zenit St Petersburg have previously watched Konoplyanka.

Money-bags Paris St Germain are also said to have scouted the 24-year-old extensively.

"He has the ambition to go and test himself in one of the big leagues," Bradley added.

"He has been at Dnipro since he was a young lad and grown up on the banks of the Dnieper. But he is ready to take that next big step now."

But clubs have been put off by his price tag. Dnipro are owned by the third richest man in Ukraine and even with the turmoil of the Ukrainian League, they are not in a position where they need to sell.

"I've covered many of their Europa League games and there has always been scouts from top European clubs there watching him.

"But he will look at Liverpool and think 'I could go straight into that team'.

"Liverpool have also been linked with Andriy Yarmolenko but, for me, Konoplyanka is more suited to their style of football.

"His work ethic is really good whereas Yarmolenko is a more laid back character and so will frustrate you. Konoplyanka is a better option."

Reaction to the Merseyside derby :

Here is James Pearce's LFC verdict as the Reds run riot and click for Greg O'Keeffe's EFC match report .

Click here to re-read our live blog from yesterday with build-up throughout the day and commentary from the match.

And we've got in-depth analysis from Dave Prentice here and Neil Jones here .