Liverpool Football Club has confirmed that their Brazilian midfielder Phillipe Coutinho will leave the club after an agreement was reached with FC Barcelona, subject to medical and agreement of personal terms. It is being reported by a reliable source in the English press that Coutinho will make the move after a fee of £146m was agreed between the two clubs. The Merseyside club has now given permission to the player to go ahead with the usual formalities to conclude the transfer immediately.
In an interview with the club’s official website, Jurgen Klopp said,
“It is with great reluctance that we – as a team and club – prepare to say farewell to a good friend, a wonderful person and a fantastic player in Philippe Coutinho.
“I can tell the Liverpool supporters that we, as a club, have done everything within our means to convince Philippe that remaining part of LFC was as attractive as moving to Spain, but he is 100 percent certain his future – and that of his family – belongs at Barcelona. It is his dream and I am now convinced there is nothing left at our disposal to change his mind.’
“So as we bid farewell to Philippe, we continue on our path of progress and development as we work towards our common goal of bringing trophies back to Anfield.”
Despite losing Coutinho, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp remains optimistic about securing some silverware for the club in the near future. Let’s take a look at three realistic replacements who can improve the Reds’ chances to do so in the next few seasons.
Thomas Lemar
The AS Monaco winger was linked with Liverpool last summer but the Reds were unable to secure his services then. Jurgen Klopp may opt to go back to his previous target as he will fit the Liverpool owners, Fenway Sports Group’s model of buying young players and developing them into future stars. At 22, he still has his peak years ahead of him which the Merseyside club can look to benefit from. Lemar has scored 2 goals and made 4 assists in 18 appearances for the French club in all competitions this season.
He has had a dip in form this term when compared to his stats from the last campaign. However, he will be surrounded by more quality in the Liverpool squad, so those numbers should increase if the Reds are able to secure his signature.
Riyad Mahrez
Probably the most like for like replacement for Coutinho on this list. The Leicester City midfield maestro might be the most realistic option for the Reds right now and his records this season has been impressive, to say the least. The Algerian has scored 8 goals and made 8 assists in 24 appearances for the Foxes this season. He will definitely be an ideal fit at Liverpool and if the Reds opt for him, Mahrez would be another footballer from Africa in Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
Christian Pulisic
The 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund player has been linked with a move to Merseyside in the past and Liverpool could go back to secure his services once again. The American youngster is highly talented and has immense potential which the Reds are looking for. Pulisic has scored 4 goals and made one assist in 23 appearances for the Bundesliga club this season.
