Liverpool have failed with their opening bid of £28million to sign Mohamed Salah from AS Roma.

The Egypt international has been identified by Liverpool as having the right profile to add to their squad and the clubs have been in discussions.

Roma, however, value Salah – the former Chelsea winger – closer to £40million and there will be much work for Liverpool to do to secure his release.

Liverpool have failed with a bid of £28million to sign Roma's exciting winger Mohamed Salah

The Reds have identified Salah as someone who has the right profile to add to their squad

It emerged in Italy on Thursday night that Liverpool’s first bid has been rebuffed and nobody within Anfield would comment on the development.

Salah, though, is high on Liverpool’s wanted list this summer and negotiations are expected to continue, with the player keen to return to the Premier League.

Liverpool began the transfer window by securing the signing of Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke and it is anticipated there will be a number of new arrivals before the start of the season.

The Egypt international had a disappointing spell at Chelsea after arriving from Basle in 2014

But the 24-year-old scored 19 goals in 41 appearances for the Serie A side this season

Virgil Van Dijk, the Southampton defender, remains their prime target and Liverpool are prepared to smash their transfer record to sign the Holland international, who is also a target for Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal. He will make his next move based on the football project which appeals to him most.

Naby Keita, the Red Bull Leipzig midfielder, is also a priority but, again, it would take a fee bigger than the £35million Liverpool invested in Andy Carroll in January 2011 to secure his release.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also a target; he has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Arsenal and is keen on the idea of working with Jurgen Klopp should he decide to leave the Emirates.