Liverpool have today agreed an £8.5 million deal with Inter Milan for attacker Philippe Coutinho.
Southampton were threatening to derail the Reds’ pursuit of the 20-year-old with new manager Mauricio Pochettino working with him during his loan spell with Espanyol last season.
But Liverpool are set to finalise a deal for Coutinho early next week, subject to a work permit, with the Brazilian expected to undergo a medical at the club’s Melwood training ground on Monday.
Brendan Rodgers revealed yesterday that he hopes to add ‘one or two’ more players before the transfer window closes, following the £12 million capture of Daniel Sturridge earlier this month.
And the Anfield club’s bid to re-sign Thomas Ince also remains very much alive in spite of Blackpool’s hard bargaining over the winger’s additional clauses, with Liverpool set to recoup over £2 million in sell-on clauses for the player they allowed to leave 18 months ago for £250,000.