If Liverpool do eventually give in and allow Coutinho his dream move to Barcelona, we’ll almost certainly bring in a direct replacement.
Someone who can create from deep but also do damage in the final third.
Fantasy Sports (not the most reliable of sources, we know…) state that Julian Draxler is the man we’ll look to sign.
The German, who has 38 caps and six goals, joined PSG in January this year, but since Neymar’s blockbuster summer arrival, hasn’t been first-choice.
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This term he’s yet to start in the Champions League and has been given the nod just five times in Ligue 1, not befitting a player of his undeniable talents.
We know Jurgen Klopp likes him, as we went in for the 24-year-old before PSG scuppered us nine months ago – so the story makes sense.
Draxler is technically superb, has an eye for the goal and can beat a defender.
He’s not on Coutinho’s level, but if we were to lose our Brazilian sensation at the end of this campaign, Draxler would be a sensible option.
There’s also the possibility we could sell to PSG instead of Barca and Draxler could be used as a makeweight.
(Although we’d rather hold on to Phil for as long as possible, of course…)