Liverpool’s hopes of signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore in January have been given a boost, according to talkSPORT.

The radio station now say that Pastore’s departure on-loan from the French Ligue 1 club “now looks certain”.

Having made just two appearances for PSG this season in the Champions League, 24-year-old Pastore is looking for first-team football to increase his chances of being taken to next year’s World Cup with Argentina.

talkSPORT report on Wednesday:

Liverpool are the leading English club in the chase for the former Palermo man’s services as he is ineligible to play in the Champions League for anyone else this season, which rules out the Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Pastore is primarily an attacking midfielder, having been signed by the Qatari-owned club from Palermo for €22.8 million in 2011.

Pastore has won 13 caps for Argentina, after winning his first cap under Diego Maradona in 2010. He was part of Argentina’s squad at the World Cup in South Africa that year.

Back in October, we brought you a full scouting report on Pastore.

Writer Mahesh M. wrote in the report:

He is very much an FSG type of a buy. An excellent player with oodles of talent, disillusioned with his life at the current club, looking for a fresh start and available on the cheap? Yup, fits the profile well enough. He may find it difficult in the Premier League though as he is very lightweight and could easily get bullied off the ball. However, with the recent success of small quick players like Mata, this gamble may just be worth our while.

Liverpool may be hoping to strengthen their attacking and creative options with the loan signing of Pastore in January, however other areas of the first-team appear to remain Brendan Rodgers’ priority.

As the January transfer window draws closer, Liverpool have also been linked this week with Hamburg midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and Burnley striker Danny Ings.