Liverpool Transfer News: Philippe Coutinho Close To Joining Reds?

by Joseph Dempsey

Liverpool Echo. The Reds saw their original offer of ‚6 million (£5 million) rejected by the Italian club, but Brendan Rodgers is prepared to improve his offer in a bid to push the deal through. Cash-strapped Inter are ready to sell the 20-year old and make him their second departure, following the sale of Wesley Sneijder to Galatasaray this afternoon. Liverpool are believed to be "confident" that further negotiations this week will yield the successful completion of the deal, and the young Brazilian is considered an exciting prospect. Endowed with pace and versatility, Coutinho can play in centre midfield, out wide or as a second striker. Rodgers has already completed the signing of striker Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea but Coutinho won't be his last piece of transfer business this month. Liverpool are still keeping tabs on Blackpool's Tom Ince, but only if they can negotiate the right price for the winger. Rodgers is prepared to walk away from the deal this month safe in the knowledge that Ince will enter the final year of his contract this summer, driving down his market value.

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Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.