Liverpool Transfer News LIVE updates: Insigne could replace Coutinho, new Barcelona bid
LIVERPOOL are busy pressing ahead with their transfer plans with the end of the summer window fast approaching. Express Sport brings you the latest on Barcelona's pursuit of Philippe Coutinho and much more from Anfield.
Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Follow below for updates on the latest moves at Anfield
Sunday 13 August
Liverpool eye National League side starlet
21:40: Liverpool are reportedly interested in Hartlepool United youngster Connor Simpson.
The Mirror says Liverpool have received rave reviews on Simpson.
Newcastle Untied are also cited with interest in the youngster.
Gnabry's Hoffenheim warning
19:55: Hoffenheim's Serge Gnabry believes they have a chance of causing an upset against Liverpool in next week's Champions League playoff tie.
"We're at home first, and we have to try to win both games," Gnabry told Kicker magazine
"The two teams will approach it very differently [to their previous games], and will give absolutely everything.
"We've definitely got a chance. There's a lot on the line for both clubs."
£40million and ONE PENNY
15:54: Steven Gerrard has revealed Arsenal made a £40million and one penny bid for Luis Suarez in 2013.
Gerrard told BT Sport: “Arsenal were calling.
“I’m not sure Barcelona were calling for Suarez at that time.
“There was a bit of speculation in the papers but there was only rumours.
“So I’m not sure Barcelona were there at that time for Suarez.
“The only people I heard that were there for real were Arsenal.
“And they were offering £40m and one pence.”
Coutinho off... the shop windows
13.30: Liverpool have begun removing Philippe Coutinho advertising from their official club shop, causing fans to speculate he is leaving.
Coutinho sparked panic at Liverpool this week by handing in a transfer request amid speculation he could be on his way to Barcelona.
The Reds have since released an official club statement insisting no offers will be considered for the 25-year-old.
However, a video showing staff at the Liverpool club shop in Williamson Square removing Coutinho from their window display has sparked concerns he is leaving.
In the clip, staff members can be seen peeling a sticker of the Brazilian off the glass, despite it being a recent snap of him modelling the new third kid.
"He's definitely gone now hasn't he? Goodbye," a fan can be heard saying on the video that was shared on Twitter.
Coutinho's picture REMOVED from Liverpool's shop window
Can told he's staying
11.30: Liverpool have put their foot down on another player’s future and have warned Emre Can he is going nowhere.
Can has received interest from Italian giants Liverpool as they look to bolster their midfield.
But Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool don’t want to lose any crucial players with the season starting this weekend.
They have already been disturbed by Philippe Coutinho’s transfer request.
And are now growing worried about other players with the Mirror claiming they have told Can he is staying put.
Barca will bid again
10.00: Barcelona are preparing to break the £100m barrier as they make a third attempt to lure Liverpool into selling Philippe Coutinho.
The Spanish giants have already failed with bids of £72 million and £90 million for the Brazilian who submitted a transfer request on Friday.
And despite Liverpool saying that Coutinho, 25, isn't for sale they aren’t taking no for an answer and will increase their bid in the next couple of days.
Liverpool are understood to rate Coutinho nearer to £145 million which is likely to price out even Barca’s budget.
The saga could last until the transfer window closes at the end of the month with Barca seeking to sign a replace for the departed Neymar.
Max Meyer
09.15: Jurgen Klopp has lined up Schalke midfielder Max Meyer as a potential replacement for Philippe Coutinho.
The Mirror claim if a £60m move for Lorenzo Insigne fails, the Reds will switch their attention to the the 21-year-old.
The Germany international rejected a contract offer to stay at Schalke and only has a year left on his contract.
And sources close to the player claim he’d be open to teaming up with Klopp who tried to sign him as a teenager when at Borussia Dortmund.
Insigne wanted to replace Coutinho
05:00: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp wants Lorenzo Insigne to replace Philippe Coutinho.
As touched on below, Coutinho is closing in on a move to Barcelona.
And the Sunday Mirror claims Insigne is top of Klopp's list of replacements.
The Italy international bagged 20 goals from midfield for Napoli last season.
Shearer blasts current defenders
04:00: Away from transfer news, Alan Shearer has blasted Liverpool's defenders for their performance in the 3-3 draw with Watford.
"Time after time after time last season we sat here and said how poor Liverpool are at defending set pieces," he said.
"I don’t know what they have been doing during pre-season, but they certainly have not been working on it.
"The same things happen again.
"When you play zonal marking, you have to have players who are willing to attack the ball and head the ball.
"And Liverpool haven’t, that is quite clear. Quite clear completely.
"You have four guys who don’t want to head it - and can’t head it.
"It was exactly the same, it’s schoolboy stuff. They are all over the place.
“It does not hurt, I promise, it’s a simple header, you have to deal with those things.
"They desperately need leaders in there, someone to organise, zonal marking is clearly not working for them."
GETTY
Lorenzo Insigne is wanted at Liverpool to replace Philippe Coutinho
Redknapp thinks differently about Van Dijk
03:00: While Jamie Carragher thinks Virgil van Dijk would not be enough, Jamie Redknapp thinks Liverpool sorely need Virgil van Dijk.
“He’s better than what they’ve got," he told Sky Sports.
"That’s why I’m saying they should get him.
“I’m saying 100 per cent he would (make a difference)."
Van Dijk not enough - Carragher
02:00: Jamie Carragher thinks Virgil van Dijk is not enough to cure Liverpool's defensive ailments.
“Liverpool are a shambles, all over the place,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.
“Nothing changes, what have they done pre-season?
“There’s talk about Van Dijk coming in, yeah okay he’s a good player, but it’s from the side of the pitch, it’s the way Liverpool set up.
“They play so high and wide, if you’re a centre-back you’re exposed all the time, it’s culture.”
Path to Lemar clear? Not quite
01:00: Arsenal have been linked with a move for Thomas Lemar - as well as Liverpool.
And the Daily Mail claim the Gunners are ready to pull out of the race for the Monaco star.
But it is not all good news for Jurgen Klopp's side.
Arsenal are giving up because they feel Monaco will keep him no matter what happens.
New Coutinho bid
00:00: Philippe Coutinho No5000 as promised.
Express Sport understands Barcelona are preparing ANOTHER offer for the Liverpool star.
And it is likely to be well above £100million.
That would make him the second most expensive player of all time, behind only Neymar.
Saturday 12 August
GETTY
Steven Gerrard says Arsenal nearly signed Luis Suarez
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Robbie Savage on Coutinho
18:15: Robbie Savage believes Philippe Coutinho should move to Barcelona on the evidence of Liverpool’s defending in their 3-3 draw with Watford.
Savage said: “If I was Philippe Coutinho I would take one look at that Liverpool defence and then do everything I could to go to Barcelona.”
Klopp on Coutinho
16.10:Jurgen Klopp has admitted he cannot prevent Philippe Coutinho from leaving Liverpool this summer.
When quizzed about the 25-year-old's future following the 3-3 draw with Watford, Klopp said: "I cannot say a lot about it.
"I am responsible for the whole team. The reasons why the players are not available, I cannot have an influence on it.
"I have to accept decisions from owners, that’s how it is. Sometimes players. That is how it is. I am just concentrating on my team."
Coutinho to stay?
12.10:Jamie Carragher thinks Philippe Coutinho will remain at Liverpool despite handing in a transfer request.
Barca have seen two bids rejected for the Liverpool man, who submitted a request to leave yesterday.
But Carragher thinks he could still stay.
"I still think he will be at the club and I would keep him,” he said on Sky Sports.
“Luis Suarez put in a transfer request, stayed 12 months and played the best football of his life.”
Salah's Liverpool promise
11.10: Mo Salah has claimed he is a much better player than when he was at Chelsea, promising big things for his time with Liverpool.
"As a person, as a man, even on the pitch you can see that I have a lot of experience now," he told Sky Sports.
"I played in Italy, I was in Switzerland, I came to England then I went back to Italy so it's a big change in my life. I think I have improved everything.
"I think now, compared to three or four years ago, I can defend more, I can play more tactically, I can finish better than I could before.
"I scored about 40 goals with Roma so that's quite good. I always like to improve myself."
GETTY
Jurgen Klopp wants to sign a midfielder this summer
Souness warning
08.15:Graeme Souness thinks Jurgen Klopp needs to do more business this summer if Liverpool are to challenge for the title.
The Reds have made three signings with Dominic Solanke, Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson through the door.
But they face a battle to keep hold of Philippe Coutinho.
And Souness thinks they need more faces as well.
“Liverpool are three or four players light if they’re going to challenge [for the title],” Souness told Irish radio station Newstalk on Wednesday night.
Barca consider their options
7:05: Barcelona remain in the market for Philippe Coutinho's whose transfer request was rejected by Liverpool yesterday.
It has since emerged that Barca will have to pay a stunning £136m for the Brazil star after seeing a £90m bid rejected earlier this week.
On a dramatic day on Merseyside, Liverpool's owners FSG insisted he was not for sale, Klopp said the same, but then a transfer request came in.
Liverpool must now decide whether they should keep a player who wants to leave.
Barca are also looking at Ousmane Dembele, Angel di Maria and Ivan Perisic.
Jurgen Klopp at war with Philippe Coutinho
06:00: That snippet below is not the only thing the Daily Record are saying.
Jurgen Klopp has supposedly gone to war with the midfielder over his move to Barcelona.
The German is said to be 'acting the hard man' and using Coutinho to lay down the law to the rest of his squad.
Klopp wants to make an example of the 25-year-old and is furious at his decision to hand in a transfer request.
Jurgen Klopp wants a midfielder
05:40: Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool to sign a midfielder before the transfer window slams shut on August 31.
“We don’t have too many midfield players in the moment who have experience,” Klopp said.
“Are we looking still for players? Yes. That is the truth. But we were looking for players before Adam was injured. Now he is injured and Phil is injured so we have two less.
“It doesn’t make the situation more comfortable. You cannot be really prepared for situations like this but we have time.
“I’m just thinking about Watford and how we can start the season. But the 31st (August)? Yes, I know. Everything can happen. But I’m not sure that they will happen. If I were sure, they would probably already be in or whatever. It’s still open for business.”
GETTY
All the latest on Philippe Coutinho's move from Liverpool to Barcelona
Philippe Coutinho claxon
05:20: Coutinho No1. At 5.20am. Be prepared to be seeing Coutinho No5000 later on in the day.
The Daily Record claim Liverpool have told Barcelona how much they have to pay to sign him.
And that figure is? A huge £136million.
Barcelona have so far offered £90m and - after this development - it is no surprise Liverpool rejected it.
Welcome to Express Sport's Liverpool blog
05:00: Welcome to Express Sport's LIVE Liverpool transfer blog.
To forewarn you, be prepared for plenty of updates on Philippe Coutinho's move to Barcelona.
The Brazil international has had a transfer request turned down but this summer saga has plenty of legs left in it.
But, on the plus side, Jurgen Klopp still wants to sign a midfielder. So every cloud, right?