Neymar’s replacement or in the Iniesta role? how will Barcelona use Coutinho?

The Blaugrana confirmed the signing of the Liverpool midfielder in a blockbuster January move - but how will he fit in at the Catalan club?

Philippe Coutinho's Barcelona dream has been fulfilled. The Liverpool star is en route to Camp Nou to complete a British-record €160 million deal after the two clubs confirmed a deal following months of reports and speculation over his future.

Ever since Neymar left Barca in the summer, Coutinho was the top target for the Blaugrana along with Ousmane Dembele. The latter did arrive in a deal that could rise to €150m, but the former was made to wait as Liverpool played hardball.

Negotiations went to the wire on deadline day, but the Reds refused to budge. A few months on, however, talks have prospered and Coutinho will sign, although he will not be able to feature in the Champions League until next season after already playing in the competition for Liverpool this term.

So how will he fit in at Barcelona? Will he be used as an attacker in Neymar's vacant role on the left? Will his signing signal a return to 4-3-3? Will he play in Andres Iniesta's position? Or could he feature in a four-man midfield for the Catalan club?

The answer, quite probably, is "yes" to all of those questions. Barca boss Ernesto Valverde has utilised several systems already this season, including 4-3-3. 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2 and above all 4-4-2, and he will see Coutinho as a player who can slot into any of those formations.

If selected in Neymar's vacant role as a left-sided forward, Coutinho would start alongside Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. The MSN may be long gone, but this strikeforce has the potential to be devastating too and it could also operate with the Argentine in a deeper role and Dembele on the right, or without Suarez at all if necessary.

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