Liverpool are edging closer to landing Schalke defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos.The Sun says Papadopoulos, 21, remains manager Brendan Rodgers' number one target to bolster the backline, in the wake of Jamie Carragher's retirement.

And Schalke are paving the way for his move to England by completing a deal for Borussia Dortmund's Brazilian stopper Felipe Santana.

Papadopoulos, who will cost up to £15 million, missed the second half of the season after knee surgery, but is fully recovered - and Rodgers wants to move quickly, ahead of competition from City, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.