[SIZE=5]Barcelona complete £142m deal for Philippe Coutinho as Brazilian finally leaves Liverpool for Spanish giants[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Philippe Coutinho has joined Barcelona for a fee of £142million.
The Brazilian had long been a target for the La Liga giants and has penned a five-and-a-half-year deal at the Nou Camp.
Coutinho’s move completes a transfer saga that has been running for more than six months.
In a statement, Liverpool said: "Liverpool Football Club today issued the following statement regarding the future of Philippe Coutinho.
"Liverpool FC can confirm Philippe Coutinho will be leaving the club after a transfer agreement was reached with FC Barcelona, subject to medical and agreement of personal terms.
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“The player now has permission to complete the usual formalities to conclude the transfer immediately.”[SIZE=4][/SIZE]
[SIZE=5]Riyad Mahrez ‘set for Liverpool medical ahead of £49m move’ as Reds get ready to replace Philippe Coutinho[/SIZE]
Just hours after Philippe Coutinho’s departure from Liverpool to Barcelona was confirmed, a ready replacement is reportedly being lined up.
Leicester’s former Premier League player of the season Riyad Mahrez is said to be set for a medical at Anfield as soon as Sunday.
Liverpool sealed a whopping £142million deal for Coutinho after finally relenting and giving the Brazilian what he wanted.
BeIN Sports is now saying a £49m deal is on the cards to lure Mahrez away from the King Power Stadium.
The Algerian international is considered an ideal replacement for Coutinho - another speedy skill merchant who can deliver goals while pulling the strings in attack.
[SIZE=5]Manchester City set to offer £25m for Alexis Sanchez in dramatic u-turn that’ll put Inigo Martinez move on ice
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[SIZE=4]Manchester City are set to perform a dramatic U-turn over Alexis Sanchez with a £25million bid that will force them to put the brakes on their efforts to land Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez.
City boss Pep Guardiola saw City’s quest for the Quadruple gather more momentum yesterday with a 4-1 FA Cup victory over Burnley at the Etihad.
And that is set spark to an opening gambit for Arsenal for Chilean contract rebel Sanchez as City look to bolster an attack that has been weakened by a knee injury to striker Gabriel Jesus.
However, a successful move for the 29-year-old would see them ditch their plan to trigger the £28.5million buy-out clause in Martinez’s contract at Sociedad due to Champions League regulations.[/SIZE]
Both Sanchez and Martinez have played in the Europa League this season.
And while clubs through to the last 16 of the Champions League are allowed to make three changes to the 25-man squads submitted to UEFA in September – they can only add one player who has appeared in the Europa League.
Guardiola has decided that his need to bring in a forward is more pressing following the news that Jesus will be sidelined for up to two months with ligament damage.
courtesy of: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/
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