Liverpool have booked Kostas Tsimikas in for a medical.
The left-back has seen an offer for his services accepted by Greek club Olympiakos, and is now set for a medical on Merseyside.
Guardian journalists Mark Dobson and Will Unwin reported that a £11.75 million fee has been agreed between the two clubs, and Kostas Tsimikas will sign a £50,000-per-week contract.
All that’s left is to complete the medical assessment before the deal is announced.
This deal has materialised because of the breakdown in talks between Liverpool and Norwich City for Jamal Lewis. Sporting director Michael Edwards was only prepared to commit £10 million towards that deal, but that Canaries wanted double.
After the two outfits failed to see eye-to-eye, the Reds transfer machine moved quickly to seal the deal for Tsimikas – who impressed as Olympiakos narrowly lost to Wolves in the Europa League.
The left-back faced off against Adama Traore and managed to keep the frightening Spaniard in his back pocket for 90 minutes, which is an excellent sign of things to come.
Leicester City were interested in Tsimikas, said the Guardian, who they viewed as a replacement for Ben Chilwell. Chelsea want to sign Chilwell, but could the Foxes now turn to Lewis instead?
The Norwich man was desperate to make the move to Anfield, but his club’s valuation of him was never going to sit right with Edwards and the move for Tsimikas is a lot more affordable.
This move will fix the most glaring gap in Jurgen Klopp’s squad and ensure James Milner won’t have to stand in at left-back anymore. The midfielder is still incredibly fit, but the side does lose some attacking input when he replaces Andy Robertson down the left.
Will we see more moves now this deal is nearly over the line? Liverpool definitely need a central defender to replace Dejan Lovren, so it’s safe to assume their are more transfers in the pipeline.