Barcelona are taking a keen interest in Liverpool attacker Philippe Coutinho according to Fichajes via the Daily Mirror.
23-year-old Brazilian international Coutinho has proven a massive bargain buy with the £8.5m paid (via the Independent) to Inter Milan back in January 2013 looking like an inspired bit of business by boss Brendan Rodgers.
The form shown by Coutinho over the past couple of seasons has led to a recall to Brazil’s national team set-up and he is a player Rodgers would be loath to lose.
The Northern Irish boss saw Luis Suarez move to Barcelona last summer and then lost Raheem Sterling to Man City in the last transfer window, those sales have greatly lessened Liverpool’s effectiveness in the final third, and Coutinho is arguably the best creative talent Rodgers has left in his Anfield armoury.
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Whilst Coutinho is an accomplished performer, it’s not entirely clear quite where he would fit into Luis Enrique’s starting eleven.
The Barcelona boss likes to field a front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, the star trio scoring an astonishing 122 goals between them in 2014/15. Creative talents Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta and new signing Arda Turan offer great support going forward.
Coutinho has made 107 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 17 goals and providing 19 assists.