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Liverpool FC are in pole position to sign Christian Atsu this summer – but the Reds fear they will have to wait if they are to secure the FC Porto winger.

The Ghanaian, a pacy, direct wide player, has been identified as an ideal addition to Brendan Rodgers’ squad, but Liverpool are aware that the Porto are likely to call all the shots in negotiations.

Atsu, 21, has just one year remaining his current contract, and has informed the Portuguese club that he does not intend to sign a new one at Estadio do Dragao.

Liverpool believe the player could be available for as little as £3m, and had hoped Porto would agree to a quick sale.

But the Portuguese champions are notoriously strict negotiators, and have no pressing need to sell, so Reds officials suspect a potential deal could drag on through the summer, with Rodgers lining up alternative targets in case Atsu is made to sit out the final year of his contract with Porto.

The Reds’ move for Luis Alberto, meanwhile, remains on track, with negotiations with Sevilla expected to reach a conclusion this week.

Confirmation of the £7.7m signing of Iago Aspas from Celta Vigo is also imminent, whilst the club remain in negotiations for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Sporting Lisbon defender Tiago Ilori.

Liverpool have also expressed an interest in Athletic Bilbao’s highly-rated teenager Unai Lopez, but with the 17-year-old attracting the attentions of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as clubs from Italy, fear their hopes of signing the attacking midfielder are slim.

The Reds are also unlikely to allow defender Andre Widsom to join Fulham on loan this summer.

The Cottagers are interested in taking the 20-year-old on a season-long deal, but the ECHO understands Liverpool, whilst open to the idea of loaning him, would prefer to send him to a club outside of the Premier League, where there would be an option to recall him to Anfield, if required.

Wisdom enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Reds last season, making 19 appearances in all competitions, and was one of the few players to emerge with credit from England’s poor showing at the European U21 Championships earlier this month.