KLOPPA CABANA

Liverpool boss is going nuts for Brazil and is aiming to add the ‘new Ronaldinho’ to his all-star Samba contingent

LIVERPOOL are on the verge of striking Brazilian gold, with a £26million swoop for Olympic star Luan.

Jurgen Klopp has spent the last year trying to team up a player hailed as the new Ronaldinho with his Samba stars Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Lucas.

Sources suggest a deal is close to being agreed with Luan’s club Gremio – for whom Lucas played – after the 24-year-old turned down the offer of a new contract a month ago.

The Brazil international has a year left on his current deal and that has forced Gremio to talk money with several European clubs.

The player’s representatives, including his business advisor Jair Peixoto and agent Gianni Losito, flew to London last month. It is understood contact was made with Anfield representatives, and terms discussed.

Liverpool head the queue after agreeing to meet a valuation of €30m, and are said to be increasingly confident of getting their man as they creep closer to Champions League qualification, which could seal the deal.

Gremio have a 70 per cent stake in the player, with 30 per cent currently third-party owned. Third-party ownership is banned in England, which is likely to make the move more complicated.

Luan has been described by Ronaldinho himself as Brazil’s next star, and confirmed his reputation by helping his country to Olympic gold in Rio alongside Neymar and Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus.

He scored a wonder goal in the quarter-final, another in the semifinal and converted his penalty in the shoot-out which earned victory over Germany in the final.

He can play on the flanks in a front three or centrally as a striker or No.10. That is perfect for Klopp, who is looking for a goalscoring wide player who can fit into his fluid attacking line, and provide an alternative to injury-prone Daniel Sturridge.

Klopp is confident he can land Luan and even more confident he can team him up with Coutinho, despite persistent claims in Spain that Barcelona will make a huge bid for the midfielder.

Coutinho signed a new five-year contract at the end of January and boss Klopp was adamant his star player is staying at Anfield.

“Before he signed the new contract there were rumours, after he signed the contract there were rumours,” said the German (above with Lucas). “What can you do to stop the rumours? I have no idea.”

Klopp, preparing for a crucial trip to West Ham tomorrow, added: “We spoke a lot around signing the contract. We all believe in this project. We all want to be part of it. It is a fantastic club in a good situation, not perfect, but a good situation.

“Yes, he is now a big player for his country – but he became this player at Liverpool. He knows about this. That is what is really special about him. He really likes being here, it’s not like someone has to force him. His family really likes it too.”

Klopp also suggested his longterm aim was to help Coutinho develop into a deeper lying midfielder, to bring out his creative influence . . and allow the team to accommodate a different type of wide player, which Luan certain is.

He said: “We all know how strong Philippe can be. Can we work on different things? Yes of course.

“He plays, at the moment, kind of wing ten but he can also play as an eight.

“That is possible and maybe have more influence and we can involve another player on the wing. That would make us stronger for sure, having this creativity in the middle of the park. He would have to adapt to that.

“He is young, full of talent and I’m pretty sure he thinks he is in the right place.”

Klopp has fitness doubts about Roberto Firmino, who will have a late test, and that could give Sturridge his first league start since January 2.