Wednesday 29 June 2016 17:32, UK
Martin Skrtel is close to completing a move from Liverpool to Fenerbahce, according to the Turkish club’s president.
Fenerbahce have been in discussions with Liverpool over Skrtel's transfer for some time, but the 31-year-old's involvement at Euro 2016 with Slovakia has prevented a deal from being completed.
Slovakia were eliminated by Germany in the round of 16 last week and it now appears Skrtel is edging closer to ending his eight-and-a-half-year stay at Anfield.
Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim told AMK Spor: "The (Gregory) van der Wiel and Skrtel transfers are almost done."
Liverpool signed Skrtel for £6.4m from Zenit Saint-Petersburg in January 2008 and the central defender has made 320 appearances for the club.
He signed a new three-year contract last summer but has fallen out of favour under manager Jurgen Klopp, starting just four games since the New Year, with Klopp opting to partner Kolo Toure with Dejan Lovren in the absence of Mamadou Sakho.
Despite Toure being released following the expiry of his contract, Skrtel's first-team prospects appeared limited due to Joe Gomez's return to fitness and the arrival of Joel Matip on a free transfer from Schalke.
Andre Wisdom has also returned to the club following a season-long loan at Norwich, while Liverpool still have young centre-backs Lloyd Jones and Tiago Ilori at their disposal.
Brazilian Lucas Leiva was also deployed at the heart of the defence by Klopp on a number of occasions last season.
Liverpool completed the signing of Sadio Mane from Southampton on Tuesday and will also welcome goalkeeper Loris Karius and Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic to the club this summer.
