5 potential replacements should Liverpool part ways with Philippe Coutinho

5 replacements should Liverpool part ways with Philippe Coutinho

AL AIN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 12: Luan of Gremio is challenged by Jorge Hernandez of CF Pachuca during the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 semi-final match between Gremio FBPA and CF Pachuca on December 12, 2017 at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) /

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 16: Luan of Gremio reacts during the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 Final between Gremio and Real Madrid at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on December 16, 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Ramos – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) /

Luan, Gremio

Should Liverpool want to replace Coutinho with one of his countrymen, then Gremio’s Luan Guilherme de Jesus Vieira would be another good fit. Known simply as Luan, the striker has had an impressive few years in Brazil. He has scored 26 goals in 106 games for his club and featured in last month’s FIFA Club World Cup final, which the Brazilian club lost to Real Madrid.

A FourFourTwo feature on Luan from last year described him as a player who “can dribble with the ball at a fast pace, making him difficult to contain, and confuses defenders with split-second changes in direction.” A lot of that is due to Luan’s background playing futsal, where he honed his skills in gyms rather than outside on the streets like most Brazilian boys. Like most Brazilian players, Luan possesses the ability to put through silky passes and can play on either wing.

Liverpool scouts have had their eye on the 24-year-old Luan, although it remains unknown whether they see him as a replacement for Coutinho or as an additional signing in the summer. Gremio are also reluctant to part ways with their star. The club rejected a £17 million bid from Russian side Spartak Moscow just last summer.

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