With the Anzhi Makhachkala clearance sale in full swing, Liverpool seem to be the team i nthe best position to sign their Brazilian midfielder, Willian, beginning negotiations for the player with the Russian club.

Willian has been with the Degastan club for only half a season, signed for €35 million from Shakhtar last January. He hasn’t made much of an impression in terms of scoring, but that wasn’t his specialty in the Ukraine as well.

With Anzhi going into a a tight financial situation, it seems that selling their best players is inevitable, and they’ve already begun getting rid of their top and most expensive Russian players. Willian, and other foreign stars, are next.

According to the Liverpool Echo, both Anzhi and the player are quite willing to enter negotiations with Liverpool over a move to the Premier League, with his initial price standing at around £30 million, but with Anzhi eager to get rid of his salary, the transfer price might drop substantially.

Willian himself has been talking to the Brazilian press, confirming that he’s been made aware of the Liverpool interest in him, and he’s waiting for the clubs to come to an agreement so he can start working on his personal terms.

It’s still hard to see how Willian works with the current lineup, but it’s hard to believe he’s intended to be a bench player. He plays in a very similar role to that of Philippe Coutinho, who is an attacking midfielder that tends to begin his play from the left side, but I’m pretty sure Rodgers is thinking how he can play the two players in the same lineup without giving up too much tactical discipline or defensive ability.

In the past, plenty of Premier League teams like Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City have been interested in Willian, with City making an offer of £34 million not too long ago only to be rejected. But that was before their signings this summer (including Fernandinho) and before the financial problems at Anzhi began a ripple effect causing them to sell their best players. For now, Liverpool are a bit ahead of everyone else in the race for the talented Brazilian midfielder.

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