Paper Round: Philippe Coutinho could leave Liverpool for Barcelona today

The transfer window is closed but not in Spain and Philippe Coutinho could still join Barcelona, Alexis Sanchez's City move collapses, Chelsea miss out on Fernando Llorente and Emre Can is on Juventus's radar.

Coutinho could still leave Liverpool

Liverpool fans can't relax yet - Brazilian forward Philippe Coutinho could still leave the club for Barcelona today. The Spanish transfer window doesn't close until midnight tonight, meaning that he could still complete his £160m transfer to Spain. The 25-year-old hasn't featured in Liverpool's recent matches, and it had been reported that he could yet complete a move. The Sun add that wantaway Leicester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez could also join the Catalan giants on Friday. 

Our view: Liverpool seems to have prepared for life after Coutinho after signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal on Thursday. More over the team have been doing well in his absence. So you could expect them to sell the Brazilian to Barcelona on Friday. An offer of £160m would be too good to turn down anyway. For Mahrez no one knows his fate after Barcelona deny they were interested in him and seeing that the window is close in England, he might just have to stay put with Leicester City at least till January. 

Juventus prepare Can swoop

Juventus are attempting another clever transfer move, this time for Liverpool's Emre Can. The 23-year-old is yet to sign a new contract at Anfield and is available on a free transfer at the end of the season. As such, Juventus offered Liverpool the chance to make some kind of money from his sale with a 25m euro bid, but the club turned them down as they will not sign RB Leipzig's Naby Keita until next summer.

Our view: Liverpool need to keep Can for at least one more season if he refuses to renew his contract. When Keita comes in next summer, Liverpool will already have a enough cover for the position.

 

Sanchez move collapses amid farce

Alexis Sanchez believed he was about to join Manchester City, only for the move to collapse. City and Arsenal had agreed a deal worth £55m, rising to a possible £60m, and Sanchez was due to undergo a medical in Chile. However, Arsenal's proposed replacement, Monaco's 21-year-old French international Thomas Lemar, turned down a move. In turn, that meant that Arsenal could not rubber-stamp any deal to let the 28-year-old winger leave.

 

Our view: Ok lets say Wenger proved many of us wrong this time by holding on to Sanchez. But the player will be so disappointed that his proposed move to City did not materialize. City should be blamed for leaving it too late knowing fully well that for Arsenal to sell, they need to find a replacement. Wenger deserves the praise. Lets Sanchez settles down with the team and help them win more titles this season.

 

Chelsea miss out on Llorente

A similar foul-up happened on Chelsea's watch. For about a year, Chelsea have been interested in Swansea City striker Fernando Llorente. An experienced, bargain-priced striker was available for back-up, and Antonio Conte wanted him as a reinforcement, even though Diego Costa remains at the club. For around £15m, Spurs have an excellent alternative to Harry Kane, and Mauricio Pochettino got the late additions that he needed. Conte has none.

 

Our view: Chelsea felt hard done by this. Everyone seems to be rejecting them, Barkley did, Llorente did and Chamberlain did... Missing on Llorente to another London club in Spurs showed that something was not alright at Stamford Bridge. They just manage to miss their major targets. All the same good they were able to capture Danny Drinkwater and Torino wing-back Davide Zappacosta.