Liverpool round-up: Coutinho’s new price tag; West Ham star could replace him; Markovic interest fades

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Liverpool could suffer a huge dent in their ambitions as Catalan radio station RAC1 claim that Philippe Coutinho has an agreement with Barcelona and will now request a move to force through a deal. Newspaper Sport even go so far as to say that he will take a pay cut in Spain to do so.

However, whether or not a deal is possible is a different matter. That comes after the same newspaper, Sport, reported that Liverpool would demand a fee of at least €150 million (£133.9 million) in order to even consider selling the Brazilian. With money from the sale of Neymar, that may be possible, but even then it remains doubtful.

If Coutinho does move on, Bleacher Report say that the Reds may turn to a long term target to replace him. That man could be West Ham attacking midfielder Manuel Lanzini. Latest reports suggest that the club have been tracking him since he moved to London but may make a move sooner than expected if Coutinho departs.

The Argentine playmaker has come into his own since the exit of Dimitri Payet from the London Stadium and has become a key player in Slaven Bilic’s plans. The Hammers would be reluctant to allow him to leave cheaply and could drive a hard bargain if they are willing to consider a sale at all.

Liverpool are having the exact opposite problem with winger Lazar Markovic. The Reds demanded £16 million in order to sell him to Serie A side Fiorentina, but the Liverpool Echo say that the asking price is too high for the Italians and, as such, is unlikely to lead to a concrete agreement.

Markovic has been left out of the club’s pre-season tour squad to travel to Asia and now Germany, having featured in the opening friendly against Tranmere. After loan spells at Sporting Lisbon, Fenerbahce and Hull City, he is no longer needed at Anfield by Jurgen Klopp.