Liverpool round-up: Twist in Barcelona’s Coutinho chase; Mbappe interest confirmed; £67m for midfielder

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It is brilliant news for Liverpool, as Catalan based newspaper Sport claim that Barcelona are shelving their interest in Philippe Coutinho until next summer. The La Liga giants had been interested in the Brazilian but are now focusing their efforts on midfielder Marco Verratti instead.

That means that it is now most likely that Coutinho will continue at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp next season. Klopp has revealed that he is hoping to deploy him in a more central role, where he was hugely influential in a handful of games towards the end of the season.

He could be joined in attack by Monaco’s teen sensation Kylian Mbappe, after Sky Sports confirmed that the Reds’ interest in the Frenchman is real. The 18-year-old is in demand this summer, with the likes of Arsenal and Real Madrid also mulling over a move for him.

However, the club are not convinced that the teenager wants a move to England, with many believing that he would prefer to stay in Monaco or move to the Spanish capital. It would be an ambitious move for Jurgen Klopp’s side, but it’s hard to see how they would attract him or find the £100 million plus that he would cost.

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Another expensive target is Red Bull Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita. Now, German newspaper Bild claim that the Guinean’s club have put a £67 million price tag on his head, as Liverpool show no sign of being deterred in their pursuit of the 22-year-old.

The dynamic central midfielder has impressed many since moving to Bundesliga last summer and could now be on the move again if the two clubs can come to an agreement. Keita would add energy to the Reds’ midfield and would offer another option in a holding midfield role.

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