Liverpool Transfer News: Adama Traore to Have Medical, Philippe Coutinho Rumours

Liverpool are apparently poised to land Barcelona winger Adama Traore, but according to reports, the Blaugrana are keen to include Philippe Coutinho as part of any potential deal.

Focusing on Traore first, according to Sport (h/t Joe Rimmer of the Liverpool Echo), the 19-year-old will head to Merseyside for a medical ahead of making a move. The piece claimed a host of young players could leave the Catalan club after Barca B’s relegation to the third tier of Spanish football.

Here’s a look at the kind of quality Traore could bring to Anfield:

The teenager is certainly an exciting talent. Blessed with searing pace and a thunderous shot, Traore is one of the most highly rated players currently developing at the Masia academy. As such, it would be a big surprise to see Barcelona let the youngster leave the club on any kind of permanent deal.

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But what would be even more peculiar would be Liverpool agreeing to include Coutinho as part of any deal. Metro cited “reports in Spain” that claim the Brazilian could be key to completing a transfer for Traore and stated it’s “not known” whether Reds boss Brendan Rodgers would be willing to entertain any offers for the former Inter Milan man.

As we can see here, courtesy of WhoScored.com, Coutinho is a key creative player for the Reds:

There seems to be very little in the story too. After all, while Traore is a player who has plenty of potential, it’d be puzzling if the Reds gave up their standout performer from 2014-15 in an attempt to land him.

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Big things will be expected of the Brazilian this season. In a squad that has been given a major facelift for the second consecutive summer—with James Milner and Roberto Firmino joining Coutinho in Liverpool's midfield—the fan favourite is expected to thrive.

Bleacher Report's Andy Brassell took a look at some potential business the Reds might conduct before the transfer window closes:

With Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard gone, the club needs a new talisman, a role Coutinho will likely be keen to assume. Encouragingly, as we can see here, courtesy of Selecao Brasileira, the 23-year-old looks to be in fine form during pre-season:

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Coutinho with a no-look pass. pic.twitter.com/rqXcn6pCg7

— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) August 1, 2015"

Securing Traore on loan would be a strange move for the Reds. The point of these types of deals is to give the youngsters playing time, but Rodgers already has plenty of attacking options, meaning it’s be difficult to see when the Barca man would be needed. Everton, who are also keen on the player, according to Metro, would seem a much more natural fit.

As for Coutinho going the other way? There’s no chance of that happening this summer. You can see why Barcelona would be enamoured by the intricate Brazilian, but with the start of the Premier League season just days away, Liverpool likely wouldn’t entertain any offers for Coutinho, who could establish himself as the most important player at the club.