wicked.football

Liverpool are working on the return to the club of Philippe Coutinho for a bargain fee, Leeds are chasing two new midfielders, while Wednesday’s Euro Paper Talk claims Ralf Rangnick is prioritising a £35m January deal for Manchester United. 

COUTINHO ‘NEARING LIVERPOOL RETURN’

Liverpool are reportedly working on a January deal to re-sign Philippe Coutinho in what could prove a fairytale return.

The midfielder departed Anfield in January 2018 for a fee that could reach £142m – to this day the third biggest in world football.

The move to the Nou Camp though has not gone as expected with the Brazilian failing to convince a string of managers. Indeed, he has just 26 goals in 106 appearances for the Blaugrana.

Now it seems his time in Catalonia is coming to an end.

Indeed, reports in Spain have pushed the theory that Coutinho does not figure in new coach Xaxi’s long-term plans. And they are reportedly listening to offers ahead of the January window.

Coutinho up for grabs

Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, Coutinho has been offered to Newcastle and Tottenham.

And while Newcastle are keen, Coutinho seemingly does ‘not see himself living in the city’. Spurs, meanwhile, have no interest in a deal.

However, as per Gabriel Sans of the paper, Liverpool are also in the running and are ready to push through a deal.

Indeed, a return to Anfield would be something of a fairytale return for the player. Coutinho is seen as the perfect cover Liverpool need with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah both destined for AFCON duty.

Furthermore, sporting director Michael Edwards reportedly hopes to secure his signing for just £21.2m (€25m). That is worth a fraction of the fee Liverpool allowed him to depart for.

And if Jurgen Klopp can get a tune out of Coutinho again, the signing will prove another transfer masterstroke from Edwards.

LEEDS CHASING NANDEZ AND AQUINO

Leeds look finally set to land a new midfielder with Cagliari likely to accept a £22.5m offer for Nahitan Nandez. (Calciomercato)

If Nandez proves too expensive, Leeds are also considering a move for Peru midfielder Pedro Aquino, of Mexican side Club America. (Libero)

Ralf Rangnick will prioritise the signing of RB Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara in January and is willing to pay the £35m exit clause in his deal. (Todofijachés)

Barcelona are ready to rival Arsenal in the race to sign Internacional striker Yuri Alberto in January. (AS)

Borussia Dortmund are closing on the signing of Hakim Ziyech in January, with Thomas Tuchel willing to sacrifice the Moroccan. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Newcastle will reportedly have to pay £25.4m if they want to sign Stuttgart’s Arsenal loanee Konstantinos Mavropanos. (SportBILD)

BARCELONA REFUSING TO DENY FERRAN TORRES LINKS

Barcelona chief Mateu Alemany is refusing to dismiss links to Ferran Torres saying: “We have a clear picture of what we want to do.” (Mundo Deportivo)

Newcastle’s £34m offer to Lyon for Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta has been rejected. (Le10 Sport)

Philippe Coutinho also has no interest in signing for Newcastle and ‘doesn’t see himself living in the city’. (Mundo Deportivo)

Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele has finally decided to sign a new deal to stay at the Nou Camp. The World Cup winger has been attracting attention from Liverpool. (Telefoot)

Claims that Leeds United fancy signing £20m-rated Atletico Mineiro midfielder Guilherme Arana have been dismissed. (Canal Galotube)

Chelsea have reportedly offered AC Milan and Napoli the chance to sign defender Malang Sarr in January. (CalcioNapoli24)

AND MORE FROM EURO PAPER TALK

Chelsea saw a £72m bid for Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos fall short over the summer. (L’Equipe)

Valencia are reportedly eyeing a surprise deal for veteran former Atletico Madrid star Diego Godin. (Marca)

Tottenham and Celtic are reportedly going head-to-head for the signature of Nice winger Deji Sotona. (various)

Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani is holding talks over a deal to buy Serie C side Pescara, with the Abruzzo club’s president Daniele Sebastiani willing to sell. (PescaraSport24)

AC Milan are pushing hard to sign Brest’s Romain Faivre in January following his magnificent start to the season. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Liverpool are planning a move to sign Napoli star Piotr Zielinski, with Jurgen Klopp a long-term admirer of the Pole. (Calciomercato)

The post Euro Paper Talk: Another Edwards masterstroke as ‘fairytale’ Liverpool signing nears; Leeds linked with two new midfielders appeared first on TEAMtalk.