Liverpool round-up: Coutinho deal done by mid-week; race for Monaco winger; defender set for exit

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Catalan newspaper Sport have sensationally claimed that a deal between Liverpool and Barcelona is close to being completed that will see Philippe Coutinho move to Spain. The fee could reach above €100 million (£90.2 million) and be sealed as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday with a Barcelona delegation being sent to Merseyside.

That would be a huge blow to Liverpool’s hopes for the season, with the club publicly insisting that the Brazilian is going nowhere and will remain a key part of their plans. What the truth is remains unclear, but it seems that there could be a rapid solution in this transfer saga.

A potential replacement may be Monaco winger Thomas Lemar. The Mirror say that Liverpool have joined Arsenal, Manchester City and Barcelona in pursuing the 21-year-old. Arsenal have had a series of bids rejected by the Ligue Un club, who are holding out for £50 million.

Lemar scored nine goals and registered 11 assists in 34 league games last season and could be a strong option for the Reds. However, given that Coutinho has played centrally throughout pre-season it seems unlikely that he would be considered as a direct replacement for the number ten.

Another left sided player could be on the move, as the Express say that Watford will pay the asking price of £15 million for Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno. The Spaniard was expected to leave this summer after a disappointing 2016/17 campaign saw him barely feature with James Milner preferred.

That said, he has been in impressive form in pre-season with some believing that the former Sevilla man could re-establish himself at Anfield and maybe even recover his career at the club. If he is sold at the reported price, then the club must be applauded for their good business in making a £3 million profit on a player who was little more than a disappointment during his spell on Merseyside.