Rodgers confirms talks over Coutinho

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed the club are in talks to sign Inter starlet Philippe Coutinho.

The Reds have agreed an 11.7-million-pound fee with the Serie A club for the Brazilian playmaker, although Rodgers was keen to stress that the deal is a long way from being completed.

“There’s been talks between the clubs but that’s about it, so nothing to report,” the Northern Irishman told reporters.

Rodgers saw his side dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of League One side Oldham on Sunday, but he dismissed claims that such a defeat meant he would have to bring new players in, instead claiming that it could be used to improve the players he already has.

“It was very disappointing yesterday,” he admitted.

“There’s no doubt, and I know it’s a part of the growing pains that we have in terms of going forward but it’s something that we’re fully aware of and we know in this window it’s never going to be fulfilled.

“It was another marker in the fact that we want to develop the group and improve the group and that’s something I’m sure we’ll deal with in the coming windows.”