Liverpool transfer news and rumours: Philippe Coutinho loan deal rejected by Barcelona, Naby Keita latest

A round-up of the latest stories regarding ins and outs at Anfield

Liverpool reportedly attempted to loan Philippe Coutinho back from Barcelona for the remainder of the season as part of the £142m deal completed this weekend.

Coutinho finalised his long-awaited move to the Camp Nou on Saturday and according to the Daily Mail, Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group left no stone unturned in trying to keep him at Anfield until May.

Barcelona ultimately rejected their attempts to loan Coutinho, who will be ineligible to play for his new club in this season’s Champions League.

As Liverpool come to terms with life after Coutinho, one short-term option may be to hasten the arrival of Naby Keita.

The RB Leipzig midfielder is currently set to begin his Anfield career in July but according to The Times, following Coutinho’s departure, Liverpool are prepared to pay a premium on top of the agreed £57m fee to sign Keita now.

Leipzig insisted no such deal would be allowed to happen earlier this month, with club chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff telling Bild last Monday: “Neither Naby nor his agent have made the request to leave the club in the winter.

“There are contracts, and they say that he will be a Liverpool employee from July 1 onwards.”

Meanwhile, on-loan Divock Origi has admitted that he is open to making his temporary stay at Wolfsburg permanent.

The Belgian has scored four goals in 18 appearances since joining on loan in the summer and the Bundesliga club recently confirmed their interest in signing Origi.

“I take that as a compliment that the club rates me,” Origi said, as reported by ESPN. “Several factors play a role. I am someone who is enjoying the moment. I think everything's possible. I focus on the here and now.

“I have a good relationship with Liverpool, but feel really well here at Wolfsburg. We'll sit down at the end of the season, and talk we'll see what's next. Right now, I am here for another six months, and I am open for everything.”