Ghana prodigy Christian Atsu is willing to run down his contract with Porto but the decision could affect his Black Stars chances going into the 2014 World Cup.
Atsu is a top target for Merseyside clubs Everton and Liverpool, but the Portuguese giants are proving difficult negotiators.
According to reports in the Portuguese media, the Ghana international is happy to play out the final 12 months of his deal with Porto and leave on a free transfer if they do not sell now.
His reluctance to extend his expiring contract with Porto led to the club's decision to leave him out of the team's starting places in the latter part of last season.
If he refuses to extend the contract and stay on the Porto fringes, the lack of playing time could affect his place in the Black Stars because coach Kwesi Appiah is only keen on players playing regularly with their clubs.
Liverpool fear their hopes of signing Atsu could be scuppered by the Portuguese side’s reluctance to come to the table.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers believes the 21-year-old Ghanaian would be a perfect addition to his squad as he looks to improve on last season’s seventh place Premier League finish.
The pacy youngster has just one year left on his contract at the Estadio do Dragao and has told Porto that he has no intention of extending the contract.
That led to the belief that Porto would agree on a quick sale and tabled a bid of £3million.
However, the Portuguese champions are in no hurry to sell their man and, may decided to make the youngster sit out the final year of his contract.
With rumours of another Premier League club showing interest in the winger the Reds have upped their offer to £5 million.
But Porto still seem reluctant to talk to the Anfield outfit which could see Rodgers step away from the negotiating table and focus his attention on alternative targets.