Liverpool appear to have run the race to sign Philippe Coutinho.
Reports on Saturday morning suggested the Reds had re-structured their offer for the Inter Milan playmaker in a bid to stave off interest from Southampton.
The ploy worked as the Serie A side are now understood to have now accepted the bid.
Coutinho is now expected to travel to Liverpool early next week for a medical and to complete other formalities.
Liverpool will also need to apply for a work permit for the player.
If the deal is completed, Coutinho would become the club's second signing of this transfer window following the £12million capture of Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea.
Rodgers, at his press conference to preview this weekend's FA Cup tie at Oldham, said: "We hope to do some business between now and the end of the month.
"The owners have been brilliant in supporting (me), we knew we were maybe a little bit short in the summer.
"We all agreed this was a month we would try to reinforce, if we could."
Coutinho came through the youth system at Vasco da Gama before joining Inter at the age of 16.
He spent the second half of last season on loan at Espanyol, where he worked with new Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Pochettino's recent appointment at Saints led to speculation linking him with the south coast club but it is understand Coutinho has expressed a preference for Anfield.
Brazilian defender Juan Jesus likened his countryman and Inter team-mate to a Ferrari. You can read why in our in-depth scouting report, compiled by Serie A expert Mina Rzouki .
And here's a clip of the Brazilian in action:
No comments:
Post a Comment