Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho agrees new contract that will DOUBLE his wages to almost £70k a week

Liverpool's most important work in the transfer window has been to secure Philippe Coutinho on a new long term contract.

Brazil international Coutinho has committed his future to the club after agreeing a double-your-money pay rise to almost £70,000 a week in a five-year contract that will keep him at Anfield for what should be the best years of his career.

That is the news Liverpool fans were most hoping to hear after the midfielder’s scintillating form in recent months.

Manager Brendan Rodgers reckons he is securing a player who will elevate himself into the same bracket as world class stars Luca Modric and Tony Kroos.

Asked who Coutinho resembled, the Liverpool manager didn’t hesitate when he replied: “The type of player you look at is Modric – he doesn’t have a big goalscoring record but he is a world class player.

“He is a continuity player, a top class player who can create the game and so importantly, opens the door for the team in the centre of midfield. Toni Kroos is another of that type of wonderful footballer - great passer.

“Those two maybe don’t get as many goal as their technique suggests, but that goes back to their role in the team, to sit behind the ball and serve the ball and create the game for others, Not necessarily to score 15 or 20 goals a season.

“Phil’s numbers will improve, but it’s not the be all and end all if he doesn’t get 15 or 20, his functions are elsewhere in the team.”

Coutinho is hoping to continue his impressive recent run of form at Bolton in Wednesday night's FA Cup fourth-round replay, after making a real statement by terrorising the Chelsea defence in last week's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg.