Reports: Liverpool to confirm $63 million replacement for Philippe Coutinho this week
What's the story?
Liverpool's campaign was handed a body blow by the departure of their Brazilian superstar, Philippe Coutinho, to Barcelona - but the little magician's departure comes with a silver lining. Or an entire freaking silver cloud.
After getting paid around €160 million by an unusually desperate Barcelona, the Reds now have quite a lot of money in their coffers and are looking at the market to find a suitable replacement.
The good folk at Bein Sports are reporting that Riyad Mahrez is slated to have a medical at Anfield either today or tomorrow and a deal worth or €55 million (~$63 million) has already been agreed with Leicester City for their superstar Algerian.
In case you didn't know...
After blowing what they got from Luis Suarez's bumper sale in 2014, Liverpool are going about their business with more care but are apparently ready to seal the deal for a readymade replacement in a couple of days.
The heart of the matter
After reports stating that Liverpool have denied any approach for the Algerian and the same's the case with Leicester... but this does not mean there's a lot of work going on behind the scenes.
Having already been informed of Coutinho's decision to leave in January, the men in suits have had plenty of time to identify, assess, and select a replacement - and Mahrez seems to have topped the list.
Aware that Liverpool are now solidly cash-rich, Leicester City are sure to drive a hard bargain for their best player (by a mile), a player they really have no proper replacement for.
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Mahrez has regained a measure of his magical form from that miracle season and is playing close to his best again.
He'd love to combine week-in and week-out with fellow North African Mohammed Salah, wouldn't he?
Author's take
The only problem with getting the Algerian on board would be that the position he excels in, the position he has made a name for himself in, is the same that Mohammed Salah likes to play in.
If it really comes to it, why would you splash €63 million on someone just to bench him?