Liverpool News: Coutinho paid to force Barca move, Mahrez deal backed, Keita wanted early

STARSPORT brings you all the latest news and gossip coming out of Anfield.

By James Walters /

Steve Nicol says Liverpool should sign Riyad Mahrez to replace Philippe Coutinho GETTY

Steve Nicol says Liverpool should sign Riyad Mahrez to replace Philippe Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho paid Liverpool £9m of his own money to get his dream move to Barcelona.

The Brazil international will be formally announced as a Barca player this afternoon.

And The Telegraph say £11.5m of the £142m Barca will pay Liverpool is Coutinho’s own cash.

The playmaker has paid an initial £9m, with a further £2.5m to follow.

Coutinho was expected to make his Barca debut this week but the Spanish giants have confirmed the playmaker is sidelined through injury for three weeks.

Five men Liverpool could replace Philippe Coutinho with

 
PHILIPPE COUTINHO could leave Liverpool for Barcelona in January - here are five men the Reds could replace him with.
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Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid) - Reports suggest Liverpool have made Ceballos one of their main transfer targets after the Spaniard fell out with boss Zinedine Zidane over a lack of game time GETTY
Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid) - Reports suggest Liverpool have made Ceballos one of their main transfer targets after the Spaniard fell out with boss Zinedine Zidane over a lack of game time
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    “Steve Nicol says Liverpool should sign Riyad Mahrez to replace Philippe Coutinho”

    Liverpool should sign Leicester star Riyad Mahrez to replace Coutinho, Steve Nicol claims.

    Mahrez, 26, has been tipped to replace Coutinho at Anfield in recent weeks.

    And Nicol reckons the Leicester star is the perfect replacement for Coutinho, claiming Mahrez and a new goalkeeper signing makes the Reds better.

    “Mahrez’s stats over the last three seasons are just as good as Coutinho’s,” Nicol told ESPN FC.

    “He’s not as good as Coutinho but he’s a proven Premier League player who’s special at times.

    “If you can get Mahrez and [Gianluigi] Donnarumma, I think it makes Liverpool better.”

    GETTY

    Liverpool want to bring Naby Keita to Anfield six months early after Coutinho completed his move to Barca.

    The Reds agreed a £55m deal last summer for the 22-year-old to join them on July 1 this year.

    But Jurgen Klopp is now desperate for midfield reinforcements after losing Coutinho.

    Liverpool accept they will pay extra for the Guinea international this month.