Brendan Rodgers has been given the green light to this week make a formal £8million bid for Mohamed Salah.

The Liverpool boss spent Friday in talks with his American owners John Henry and Tom Werner, who jetted in from the States for a progress update on Anfield business.

And top of the agenda was interest in the highly rated Egypt international, who can operate in a variety of positions along the midfield and front line.

Rodgers has watched the 21-year-old for much of the season, and has been impressed with his performances in the Champions' League for his Swiss side Basel.

Salah scored goals home and away as Basel produced the shock of the group stages by twice beating Chelsea.

It is his goalscoring potential from wide positions that has aroused Liverpool interest, with their manager determined to add goals from other positions to compliment the contribution of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.

The Reds will submit a written bid later this week and the player is known to be keen on a switch to the Premier League.

Salah is rated at the £14million mark by his club, but Rodgers is hoping Basel will listen to the pleas of the player, who will ask to be allowed to move to a big European club.

The Reds boss is also scouring the globe for a defender, and would dearly love to bring in cover for both full back positions, but so far has drawn a blank.

The manager confirmed he has been given the backing from the owners to make a plunge in the January window, if the right target emerges.

Speaking about his Friday meeting with the owners, he said: "I am very happy with everything that has been said.

"They have been brilliant, and if there are players available we are able to do that sort of business - if they are available."

Source: Daily Mirror