Liverpool have moved quickly to replace Philippe Coutinho with Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, who will reportedly undergo a medical at the club on Sunday.
The Reds have confirmed that Coutinho will join Barcelona in a deal worth a reported £142m this month, making the Brazilian the second-most expensive player of all time behind only compatriot Neymar.
Initial reports had suggested that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was eager to bring in Thomas Lemar from Monaco as a replacement for Coutinho, but beIN Sports claims that they are instead on the brink of signing Mahrez.
The 26-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium since helping the Foxes to their remarkable Premier League title triumph in 2016, when he was named PFA Players' Player of the Year.
Liverpool are now reportedly willing to spend £49m of their earnings from Coutinho on the Algeria international, who is set to sign a four-and-a-half-year deal at Anfield.
Mahrez has scored eight goals and laid on seven more in 26 appearances across all competitions this season, including five goals and three assists in his last 10 outings.
Barney Corkhill
