Liverpool round-up: Barcelona step up Coutinho chase; Madrid interest in Georginio Wijnaldum; Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas linked

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Spanish newspaper Sport claim that Barcelona are preparing to up their efforts in their pursuit of Philippe Coutinho but face a challenge, with Liverpool demanding a fee similar to that which they received for Luis Suarez, worth £65 million, in 2014, whilst the Catalan club find themselves in a worse financial position.

Another difficulty lies in that Barcelona would have to break their wage structure to pay Coutinho more than the £80,000 per week he earns at Anfield. However, reports claim that the club have already begun talks with the Brazilian’s agent and the number ten is open to the idea of a return to Catalonia, where he spent a season on loan at Espanyol under Mauricio Pochettino.

There could be more interest from Spain, though this time unexpected, as TuttoMercatoWeb claim that Real Madrid are tracking midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum as a potential substitute if Eden Hazard pens a new deal at Chelsea and turns down the option to move to Spain.

Signed from Newcastle for £25 million last summer, Wijnaldum has converted into a deeper midfielder than the attacking central or wide man that he was when he arrived at the club, and has rapidly earned a number of plaudits for his consistent and effective displays in the centre of the park.

Wijnaldum could be replaced by another Premier League midfielder as the Express report that Liverpool are one of the clubs interested in a £30 million move for Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard, who celebrates his 30th birthday on Thursday, could leave the club in search of more regular first team football.

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Whilst Fabregas would undoubtedly bring quality to Anfield but it would be a bizarre move for Liverpool given their transfer policy of looking to sign young players with potential to continue developing and be re-sold at a higher price. With such experience though, it might be worth considering for the club bosses.

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