Liverpool are believed to have submitted a bid big enough to have triggered a release clause in Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s contract, according to Monday morning’s Telegraph.

The Armenian international has been on the Reds’ radar for some time and reports over the weekend suggested Liverpool Managing Director Ian Ayre had cancelled a planned trip to a football economics conference in Brazil in favour of looking to complete a deal for the highly rated 24-year-old.

Brendan Rodgers is now set for talks with Mkhitaryan, who scored 25 goals last season in the Ukranian Premier League, as well as impressive displays in the Champions League.

John Percy of the Telegraph reports:

As first revealed by Telegraph Sport, Rodgers has identified Mkhitaryan as his flagship signing for the summer and has tabled a bid which is believed to have triggered a release clause inserted into the 24-year-old’s contract by the Ukrainian champions.

The bid is thought to be around £20million.

Should Liverpool sign Mkhitaryan, he could become, in principal, Liverpool’s third signing of the summer, after the acquisitions of Ivorian international defender Kolo Toure and Spanish forward Iago Aspas.

No doubt Mkhitaryan would be seen as the ‘marquee signing’ of the summer by Liverpool and the owners, with the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Juventus also said to be interested in his signature.

The Liverpool Echo write that Liverpools’ “biggest challenge will be in seeing off the interest from a host of top European clubs said to be preparing bids for him.”

Meanwhile Liverpool are edging closer to capturing the signing of Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. The Reds are expected to reach an agreement for the transfer with the Black Cats this week and complete a deal.

What that means for Pepe Reina’s future on Merseyside is unclear. We have produced a stats and video comparison of the two goalkeepers.

The immediate future of Luis Suarez is also something on Liverpool’s mind.

The Uruguayan international striker scored a stunning free-kick for his country in Sunday night’s Confederations Cup meeting with Spain, and although some kind comments about Liverpool FC came to light over the weekend, he is yet to commit his future to Anfield.