to be honest, Coutinhos best work this season, last season every season (except brendens magnificent 2013/14 season) has been at left wing. He can play as a CM but for whatever reason, when the fab 4 are on the field together, they just don't gel (minus spartak but thats ****ing spartak!). So not sure you are really replacing an AM as couts has rarely played there. If anything Keita is that man in the CM spot as he's that creative dynamic box to box powerhouse (which i believe klopp wants 2) and should probably play with lallana in there with a dedicated DM (do you guys want bakayoko for that? )
I'd say Coutinho's true position is something like LWM if that exists (hey it's the 21st Century boys !!) since his best stuff comes from picking the ball up out there and cutting in, usually to shoot, dribble or release and pop a mid-range ball into the FWs He's not an AM or FW for sure as his instinct is as a playmaker who contributes goals
Klopp has said a few times that he views Couthino as best in a front 3 rather than the middle 3. I think defensively, our midfield is weak when he plays there. There is no coincidence that we are potentially prepared to let him go now that Salah has proven himself and we have a good front 3 without him AND that Lallana returns to fitness.... I think we'll sell him and tbh, I'd sell him now (assuming the offer is right) rather than have the sulky little tw@t derail our season (again)
I agree with you. IMO we've played better every single time coutinhos been further up than with the 3 in front of him. Lemar is LW so thats one reason why that rumour hasn't died off (that and his agent is driving it big time)
Thing is, if the rumours have any substance, Barca are attempting to dictate the price, since FSG have the upper hand they should add another £40m on to Barca's final offer and demand cash up front, they posted the largest turnover in European Football ever last summer, **** them and their Nou Camp extension plans(they say they need cash for that), if they want him so desperately let them prove it.
Liverpool have been dealt a fresh setback in their pursuit of Thomas Lemar after Monaco insisted that they will not sell the midfielder this month. The France international is wanted by Jurgen Klopp as a replacement for Philippe Coutinho, who looks set to completed his move to Barcelona before the end of January. Liverpool attempted to sign Lemar in the summer but came up short as Monaco stood their ground The Ligue 1 champions also rejected Arsenal‘s approach on deadline day as the Gunners wanted the midfielder as Alexis Sanchez’s replacement.
Still Absolutely Nothing Has Happened! Other than a few dozen more virtual trees have been converted into literary pulp, and desperate hacks have eroded their keyboards and their single brain cell a bit more. So, this thread is for actual news updates - no gossip, speculation or links to talkingbollocks.com We already have (several) threads for that, so if anyone has anything concrete to offer please put it here so we don't have to dig through piles of ****e hoping to find a nugget of actual information. I know all you fine people will adhere to the thread rules and not **** it up with irrelevant drivel... .....for perhaps 10 seconds.
Agree that Coutinho is better when playing from the left but he's been playing AM this season bar a couple of games. We definitely need creativity in the midfield without Coutinho there though
Latest: Barca and Liverpool agree on €160m Coutinho fee http://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/latest-barca-and-liverpool-agree-on-e160m-coutinho-fee-72716
