Liverpool are set to make a formal offer for Basel winger Mohamed Salah over the next few days.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has been chasing a deal for Salah - who has been dubbed the 'Egyptian Messi' - for some time.

Reports suggest that the Swiss champions want around £12 million for Salah, a price Liverpool would be unwilling to pay. But sources have told ESPN that Liverpool are prepared to bid around £7 million.

The club are set to make their move following talks between Rodgers, chairman Tom Werner and principal owner John W Henry.

Boston-based Henry and Werner flew to Merseyside to meet Rodgers and to take in Liverpool's 2-2 Premier League draw with Aston Villa on Saturday.

Salah struck the equaliser when Basel earned a 2-1 win at Chelsea in the Champions League on September 18 and then got the only goal in a 1-0 victory at home to Jose Mourinho's side on November 26.

However, Basel failed to make it through the group and dropped into the Europa League, in which they will play Maccabi Tel Aviv over two legs in February.

Source: ESPN