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Liverpool potentially face another battle with Barcelona for Lucas Paqueta

Jurgen Klopp the head coach (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
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Highly-rated Brazil starlet Lucas Paqueta is reportedly wanted by Liverpool and La Liga champions FC Barcelona.

Lucas Paqueta of Flamengo celebrates a scored goal against Botafogo during a match between Flamengo and Botafogo as part of Brasileirao Series A 2018 at Maracana Stadium on July 21, 2018...

Liverpool will be sick of the sight of Barcelona.

Not content with snatching Luis Suarez in 2014, just weeks after the Reds’ Premier League dream had come crashing down at Selhurst Park, the Catalan giants returned three-and-a-half years later to nab another Anfield talisman, Philippe Coutinho, after a bitter and prolonged transfer saga.

Now Liverpool could be forced to battle Barca in the boardroom once again.

According to Premium Sport this summer, the Merseyside giants are big fans of the highly-rated Flamengo midfielder Lucas Paqueta, with the 21-year-old identified as a potential alternative to Nabil Fekir.

Paqueta has developed a reputation as a big-game player in South America, scoring in two cup finals for Flamengo in 2017. He was rewarded for his efforts with a first call-up to the Brazil national team in August, too.

Brazil's defender Filipe Luis (L) and midfielder Lucas Paqueta (R) vie for the ball against US midfielder Adam Tyler during the international friendly match between Brazil and the US at...

But Barcelona, who have made a habit of scouring the South American market in recent seasons, are understood to have made Paqeuta one of their top priorities.

Sport claims that the versatile midfielder, whose contract contains a £40 million release clause, is a player the La Liga champions have identified to revolutionise their midfield after the summer signings of Arthur and Arturo Vidal.

The prospect of Coutinho, Suarez and Paqueta all lining up together for Barca does not bare thinking about for Liverpool fans.

Lucas Paqueta of Flamengo during a Group Stage match between Flamengo and Emelec as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2018 at Maracana Stadium on May 16, 2018 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.