LIVERPOOL NEWS LIVE: Latest updates on Coutinho to Barcelona and other gossip

Wednesday December 20

Coutinho to Barcelona update

12:16: Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona will just not go away.

And Catalan newspaper Sport say a deal is edging closer.

The player has supposedly agreed to move to La Liga on a five-year deal.

He will also supposedly be paid £10.6million a year, which works out at roughly £200,000 a week.

Liverpool loan

12:00: Ben Woodburn will be allowed to leave Liverpool on loan in January.

The Wales international is not getting much game time at Anfield at the moment.

And the Daily Mail claim Jurgen Klopp is willing to sanction a move next month.

Huddersfield Town, Leeds United and Hannover are all supposedly interested.

Liverpool rejected three deals

11:30: Liverpool have rejected three Barcelona players, according to reports.

The Catalan giants are determined to seal a deal for Philippe Coutinho.

And Spanish outlet Don Balon claims they are willing to include players as part of a deal.

So far, they have offered them Paco Alcocer, Andre Gomes and Arda Turan.

But Liverpool would prefer to sign Ivan Rakitic instead.

Keita praised

11:15: Naby Keita has been praised by Liverpool star Sadio Mane.

The RB Leipzig star will move to Anfield at the end of the season.

And Mane said: “It just came normally, because we speak the same language and were close neighbours, Guinea and Senegal.

“When he came we lived [in the] same area in Salzburg, so we were always together: sometimes he came to my house, I’d go to his house.

“We didn’t even speak German, but we had someone who took care of us. But I was better than him!

“We were so close. He’s not even a friend for me, he’s like a brother. We keep in touch all the time, talking.

“He asked me ‘how is the club?’, I said ‘unbelievable’. I don’t think it was me who convinced him, but the team, the club.

“I’m excited. I have to wait until next season! We are lucky to have him because he’s an unbelievable player—you will see.”

Good morning

11:00: Good morning and welcome to Express Sport’s LIVE Liverpool news blog.

The Reds are currently preparing for Friday’s crunch showdown with Arsenal.

But, in the meantime, there are several updates on Philippe Coutinho and Barcelona’s interest in him.

So stay tuned for all the latest from Anfield.