Liverpool are lining up Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez as a replacement for the outbound Philippe Coutinho, according to reports from the Leicester Mercury.

Coutinho is set to leave Anfield this month for La Liga giants Barcelona after months of speculation. The Catalan club are thought to be preparing a bid in excess of £130 million for the Brazilian superstar, who they see as the long-term replacement for the ageing Andres Iniesta.

Replacing the magic midfielder may be a tough task for Jurgen Klopp, but given he will have money to spend – not impossible – and the German will now look to Riyad Mahrez as a replacement for the Barca-bound star.

Mahrez has been in sensational form this season for the Foxes, after what was a difficult previous campaign.

The Algeria star won the PFA Player of the Year award as Leicester City won the Premier League title in 2015/16, however failed to recapture that form last year, spending much of the season in a relegation scrap and struggling to dazzle defenders and he had done previously.

His form this season however – Mahrez has scored eight goals and made seven assists – has seen him propelled back into the limelight and linked with a host of clubs across Europe. Barcelona were thought to be interested in the Algerian, while Chelsea were too looking to move for Mahrez to complete their raid on the title winning Leicester side, having already signed both N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater.

Jurgen Klopp has been vocal with his praise for Mahrez, describing him as a “fantastic player”.

The Algeria international has been valued at around £50 million by Leicester City, who will be keen to hold onto their prized asset.