Not many Liverpool fans will even allow themselves to get excited by this.
With Philippe Coutinho believed to almost certainly be on his way to Barcelona in the coming weeks, talk has now moved to the potential replacements for the Liverpool talisman.
Coutinho’s impact will be almost impossible to immediately replicate for any arrivals at Anfield but manager Jurgen Klopp will be hopeful of getting some business done in order to keep his free-flowing attack firing on all cylinders.
Jamie Redknapp had an interesting recommendation for his former side when he claimed that the Reds could do a lot worse than taking a player-plus-cash move for Coutinho, with Luis Suarez returning to his old stomping ground as part of the transfer.
But if Redknapp’s proposal was improbable, we can likely stick Steve McClaren’s in the impossible category.
Why doesn't he just wait until the summer? https://t.co/W4R5GoySlr
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 2, 2018
The former England boss has insisted that he could see a scenario whereby Arsenal’s wantaway forward Alexis Sanchez ignored Manchester City’s interest in order to set up shop on Merseyside.
Sanchez’s contract with the Gunners is up in the summer and, rather than allow him to move for free in six months, it’s understood that Arsenal will listen to offers for the Chile international in the January transfer window, with City frontrunners considering their financial clout and the fact that they look destined to be fighting for Premier League trophies for the foreseeable future.
“It’s difficult. I would look at Sanchez from Arsenal as there may be a bit of movement there,” McClaren told Sky Sports.
It wasn't Alexis Sanchez's finest hour https://t.co/WDrXR63Gkb
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) November 6, 2017
“£160 million is a lot of money. You can buy a lot for that [but] Liverpool won’t want to lose Coutinho’s quality.
“I could [see Sanchez at Anfield]. Sanchez will be ambitious and he’s that type of player that could replace Coutinho.
“But when you’ve got Salah, Mane, Firmino and Lallana, you might not need to replace him that much. Klopp will not want to lose Coutinho.”
Supporters struggled to get on board with the idea.
Alexis Sanchez isn't happening, forget it, he's off to Man City, the only person talking about Sanchez to Liverpool is Steve McClaren.
— David (@DavidHickman87) January 2, 2018
Sanchez to Liverpool is a BIG joke!!!
— S (@IOladiplenty) January 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/MiracleMes/status/948275347639996422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportbible.com%2Ffootball%2Ftransfers-steve-mcclaren-makes-ridiculous-suggestion-for-coutinho-replacement-20180102
I think he wants to move forward in his career not like 10 steps back.
— WANT MY OLD UNITED BACK! (@ThatUnitedLad) January 2, 2018
My favourite rumour of today. Alexis Sanchez to Liverpool to replace Coutinho.
😂😂😂😂 absolutely no chance of that.
— Kai (@kaitap92) January 2, 2018
