Liverpool will launch a £7million bid to land striker Kostas Mitroglou after watching him fire Greece to the World Cup finals.

Head of Recruitment Dave Fallows and chief scout Barry Hunter were in Romania to watch the Olympiacos star score a vital goal as the Greeks won a tense play-off.

The pair were also in Athens to watch the first leg last week where the 25-year-old turned the tie with two stunning goals to prove his pedigree at the highest level.

Anfield's Head of Performance and Analysis Michael Edwards has also run the rule over the centre forward, with scouts from the club watching his last SIX matches - including an incredible 90th minute winner in the explosive Athens derby, which almost sparked a riot.

Boss Brendan Rodgers has received detailed reports on the international striker, and has been convinced enough to launch his bid for a player who will be priced so reasonably in the January window, despite some stunning performances this season.

He has scored four hat tricks this season - one fewer than Cristiano Ronaldo - and has bagged a stunning 14 goals in 10 league games for his club, as well as six for Greece in his last seven matches.

He first came to Rodgers' attention as a star at the U19 Euro Championships in 2007, and the manager stepped up his interest last season, when he burst onto the scene in Greece with 20 goals for Olympiakos, despite often starting as a sub.

Mitroglou is the perfect candidate because he can play as a traditional number nine or as a support striker, and even wide left of a front three, which makes him versatile enough to attract Rodgers.

And while Liverpool can expect some hot competition for the striker's services at such an attractive price, they believe they are in a strong position, after developing a close relationship with Olympiakos in recent months.

The Reds boss has also been an admirer of their young defender Kostas Manolas, and has kept on friendly terms with the club.

Chief scout Hunter is also a former Northern Ireland team-mate of the Greek side's current keeper Roy Carroll, and Liverpool believe they can see off interest from the likes of Arsenal and Inter Milan to land the forward.

Source: Daily Mirror