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Liverpool will step up their bid to land Dutch star Quincy Promes in January, after missing out on number one target Julian Draxler .

With Sadio Mane on Africa Cup of Nations duty throughout January and Philippe Coutinho’s comeback from injury delayed, boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed he’s in the market for a wide player who can operate along the front line.

He was hoping that Draxler would be that man after talks with the German international, but was left bitterly disappointed after the Wolfsburg star was tempted by a big money offer from PSG.

The Reds manager though, is determined to find cover for his stretched front line, and he sees Promes as the perfect target.

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At 24, he fits the profile of Liverpool signings, and he also has an impressive goal-scoring record for a wide player, with 37 goals in 72 appearances for his current club Spartak Moscow.

Klopp is desperate to find a player who can operate wide of a front three but still show a true goalscoring instinct, and Promes – who has 14 caps for Holland – seems the likely candidate.

And interestingly, his Russian club confirmed this week the player has a release clause in his contract – thought to be around £20m – with Spartak general director Sergey Rodionov revealing: “We will try to keep him, but yes, he has a release clause. How much, I do not tell.”

Promes is a friend and international team mate of Reds midfielder Georgino Wijnaldum, and would welcome move to Merseyside.

If the Reds can activate the clause at £20m, then it would prove a bargain for Klopp.

Spartak have just signed a potential replacement in experienced winger Aleksandr Samedov from Lokomotiv, and they have also expressed an interest in a loan deal for out of favour Manchester United winger Memphis Depay.

(Image: TASS via Getty)

While Klopp is keen to push through the deal, he has been scouting other options, with Reds representatives travelling several times to keep tabs on Iran international winger Sardar Azmoun, who currently plays for FC Rostov in Russia, and has impressed in the Champions’ League this season.

The German coach has also returned consistently to his former club Dortmund to enquire about the future of American midfielder Christian Pulisic, but he was warned off a move for the youngster by the Bundesliga club last week.