Liverpool are set to finalise the £6.4 million move for giant striker Lacina Traore, according to Spanish based MercaFutbol.

The huge 6 foot, 8 inches tall striker is from the Ivory Coast and current plays in the Russian Premier League for Kuban Krasnodar.

Reports are that new manager Brendan Rodgers is on the verge of securing Traore as his first summer signing since taking over at Anfield and improves what he believes is the Merseyside club’s weakest current position. The club have already allowed forward Dirk Kuyt to leave on a free this summer and there are constant reports linking Craig Bellamy with a return to Wales to play for his hometown Cardiff City. That would leave Rodgers with just Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez as his striking options but is now close to adding Traore to his roster.

Traore first came onto the scene during his spell at Romanian side Cluj where he impressed in the Champions League and helped the club win a domestic trophy. He then moved to the Russian Premier League last season to play for FC Kuban Krasnodar and has racked up 18 goals in his first season, ending the campaign as the third highest goalscorer in the division.

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