Liverpool plot Bojan Krkic transfer from Barcelona for a bargain £5million

Forward was one of European football's golden boys when he moved in £35m deal in 2011 but his career took a wrong turn and he's now on loan at Ajax

Liverpool are lining up an audacious bid to land Barcelona's Bojan Krkic in a cut price transfer.

The Spain international striker was once valued at more than £35million three years ago when he signed for Roma, but the Reds reckon they can now bring him to the Premier League for as little as £5m.

Scouts have watched him play on loan at Ajax several times in recent weeks, with an Anfield representative running the rule during the Dutch club's surprise Europa League defeat by Salzburg last Thursday.

Krkic is still only 23, but has seen his value collapse since that unhappy move to Roma, which saw him quickly loaned out to AC Milan and then re-signed by Barca, who exercised a buy-back clause last summer.

The versatile striker, who can play in all positions along the front line and in front of midfield, was hoping to revive his career at the Nou Camp but was sent out on loan again to Ajax.

And he admitted this week that his future is now up in the air, as he raised doubts over whether his deal with the Amsterdam club will be made permanent.

"We'll see about my future, there are still two months of the season to go before any decisions have to be made," he explained.

Krkic moved to Roma in a deal which saw the Italians make an £11m down-payment, with an extra £25m to be paid should they wish to secure his long term future.

But after letting him go to Milan on loan, they decided to allow Barca to take him back, and that has left the Spanish giants admitting they are likely to sell the striker this summer for a cut-price fee.

Just like Philippe Coutinho, snapped up from Inter Milan for £8.5m 13 months ago, Krkic fits the Anfield bill perfectly - a young player with a massive reputation who played more than 100 games for Barca, but has lost his way a little in recent seasons.

The Reds will monitor the situation, and if they can do a deal at around the £5m mark they are ready to make their move in the summer.

Kop boss Brendan Rodgers meanwhile, has received a big boost to his title hopes - midfielder Lucas is back on the training ground, and could even make the subs' bench for the weekend visit to Southampton.

The Brazilian has been sidelined for more than a month with a knee ligament injury, but he posted a video of himself undergoing a full training session on Wednesday, and revealed he would be back in action soon, several weeks ahead of schedule.