Liverpool could have plenty of money to spend in January!
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has reportedly been promised the full £130million in transfer funds if Philippe Coutinho ends up leaving for Barcelona in January.
The Daily Mirror reports that the Reds are prepared for Barca to revive their interest in the Brazilian playmaker this winter, and will give Klopp that money back in full so he can rebuild his squad at Anfield.
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While it would no doubt be a major blow for Liverpool to lose this top talent, £130m remains a decent chunk of money to play around with, even in this market.
Just how much could Klopp do to strengthen his side following the departure of Coutinho? We’ve put together some recently-linked targets and estimate that he could sign as many as three new players with that transfer kitty.
Here’s a look at how Liverpool could bounce back from losing Coutinho to Barcelona…
Virgil van Dijk (£70m)
The Mirror’s report today also suggest part of Liverpool’s plans to reinvest that money could be to revive a deal for summer target Virgil van Dijk.
The report claims Southampton would want around £70m for the Dutch defender, which would significantly eat into Liverpool’s budget, but for surely an essential signing.
Dejan Lovren was recently dragged off by Klopp in the defeat to Tottenham, and it’s clear the Reds are in desperate need of reinforcements at the back.
Van Dijk has shone for Southampton in recent seasons and seems the ideal purchase to help Liverpool tighten up at the back.
Julian Draxler (£30m)
According to Transfermarketweb via the Daily Star, Julian Draxler is a target for Liverpool if Coutinho is to end up leaving.
The Germany international would make an ideal replacement for Coutinho in attack, and is capable of playing in a variety of attacking midfield roles, or even up front.
It’s little surprise to see his fellow countryman Klopp is a fan, and if talkSPORT‘s claims that he could leave PSG for as little as £30m are correct, he’d be an absolute bargain.
Still, Liverpool would likely face competition for a quality player like Draxler at that price, with talkSPORT stating Real Madrid are after him.
Luan (£30m)
Finally, the Sun report Liverpool could battle Arsenal for the signing of £30m-rated Brazilian ace Luan, who is another attacking player ideal to help bolster Klopp’s squad following the departure of Coutinho.
This would take Liverpool’s spending to precisely £130m – and while Luan remains something of an unknown quantity and a player for the future, all in all it would make a terrific response from the Merseyside giants.
With Van Dijk and Draxler ready to go straight into the starting XI and Luan providing more depth up top, Liverpool would arguably look an even more balanced side going into the second half of the season.
Liverpool fans – would you be happy to cash in on Coutinho for £130m if these three signings could be brought in with the money from his sale?