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Stunned Jurgen Klopp wants £60million-rated Lorenzo Insigne if he has to replace Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho.

Liverpool boss Klopp has long admired 26-year-old playmaker, who scored 20 goals from midfield for Napoli last season as they finished third in Serie A.

The Italians insist their star is not for sale, with the domestic season set to start next weekend and a Champions League campaign on the horizon.

But if the Reds bank around £100m from Barcelona for wantaway Coutinho, they would have the financial muscle to tempt them into a deal.

(Image: Getty) (Image: REUTERS)

Klopp and Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group insist Coutinho is not for sale to Barca at any price and on Friday they turned down a transfer request e-mailed to sporting director Michael Edwards.

The manager is reeling from Coutinho’s move and is sticking to the FSG stance that the Brazilian is going nowhere. But Klopp realises it could destabilise the dressing room if they try to keep a player who wants to leave.

Having submitted a transfer request, Coutinho expects to get his way.

(Image: Liverpool FC/Getty)

His advisers claim Liverpool have known of his desire to join the Catalan club all summer and insist he should not be made to stay, despite signing a five-year deal in January.

At the time, the 25-year-old said: “I signed this new contract to stay here for a few more years because it’s a great honour for me and it shows my happiness here.”

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Klopp and his network of scouts are working hard to establish viable targets as a contingency for Coutinho’s inevitable departure.

If Napoli block a move for Insigne, he will turn to the Bundesliga with German superkid Max Meyer a long-standing target.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has rejected a contract offer to stay at Schalke and only has a year left on his contract.

And sources close to the highly-talented German star suggest he’d be open to teaming up with Klopp who tried to sign him as a teenager when the Kop boss managed Borussia Dortmund.

Meyer, a natural No.10 who can also play off the flanks, is rated the hottest prospect in the Bundesliga and although Bayern Munich are keen to sign the youngster he’s open to a move to England.

Tottenham have been on his trail for months but the youngster is keeping his options open.

(Image: AFP/Getty)

Meyer starred in Germany’s Euro Under-21 semi-final penalty shootout win against England in Poland, scoring from the spot to help his nation into the final, where they beat Spain.

Klopp could also turn back to 21-year-old Bayer Leverkusen winger Julian Brandt, who has already rebuffed one approach from Anfield.

Reports in Germany say Brandt will join Bayern Munich next summer, but no formal agreement is believed to be in place.

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