Liverpool News LIVE updates: Philippe Coutinho bid, Aubameyang wanted, Man Utd boost

LIVERPOOL NEWS LIVE UPDATES: Follow below for the latest news and gossip from Anfield…

Sunday October 8

Reds trying to snatch Ghoulam

14:20: Liverpool are ready to make a move for Napoli ace Faouzi Ghoulam in a bid to head off interest from Manchester City.

The Algerian international is out of contract at the end of the season and talks about a new deal have stalled over a release clause.

His agent Jorge Mendes wants a £30 million release clause in the deal which Napoli believe is well below his market value and are reluctant to meet it.

City want Ghoulam as a replacement for Benjamin Mendy who is ready to miss the rest of the season after having an operation on damaged knee ligaments.

Liverpool have been tracking him for the last year and rate him as one of the best left-backs in Europe and will have to move or risk losing him.

Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Juventus have all expressed an interest in signing him when the transfer window opens in the New Year as well as City.

Reds won’t crumble

12:15: Liverpool will refuse to cave in and let Barcelona snatch Philippe Coutinho in January, according to reports.

Philippe Coutinho was the subject of intense interest from Barcelona over the summer, but he ended up staying at Anfield.

Liverpool received and rejected bids, the last of which was £118million, and they dug their heels in over the Brazilian.

After missing the start of the campaign with a back injury, Coutinho’s reintegration into the first team has paid dividends, and he has scored two goals in three Premier League starts.

However, the Coutinho saga is far from over.

The Sunday Mirror report Barcelona are set to test the Reds’ resolve with a fresh bid when the transfer window reopens in January.

It is suggested Coutinho is prepared to make his feelings clear and he has supposedly stayed in touch with the officials of the La Liga giants.

Nevertheless, it is claimed Liverpool refuse to crumble and won’t back down.

Sign Aubameyang! 

12:10: Liverpool should sign Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to Phil Thompson.

"I don't believe the Virgil van Dijk signing alone would have solved our problems," said Thompson. 

"He'd improve our defence but I don't think he's the sort of vocal leader who would sort it out.

“I’d like to see a more physical and commanding presence in the side.

"I do feel that come January we need to improve the defenders and get an out-and-out striker. 

“If Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang became available then he should be on our hit list."

Fellaini out for two weeks

12:00: Manchester United's midfield injury concerns deepened yesterday when in-form Belgian Marouane Fellaini picked up a knee injury on international duty which will keep him away from the field for a couple of weeks.

The combative Fellaini has been pivotal to United's unbeaten start to the season but lasted just 29 minutes of a World Cup qualifier against Bosnia in Sarajevo before limping off after landing awkwardly on his knee.

Although the 29-year-old left the Grbavica Stadium without the use of crutches following Belgium's 4-3 win, coach Roberto Martinez offered a sombre assessment of the player's condition.

"We are all worried about Fellaini," Martinez told reporters. "We fear that there's ligament damage."

The Belgian FA said on Sunday Fellaini "will be out for a couple of weeks with a left knee injury" after the player underwent an MRI scan.

The injury comes a week before United's clash with Liverpool on October 14.