French youngster insists Liverpool told him that he would replace Philippe Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho is still only 24 years old but Liverpool are reportedly already looking for his replacement.

The Reds' star playmaker is approaching his prime playing years but the club have identified a youngster who they feel could fill his boots when the Brazilian's time at Anfield comes to an end. You may not have heard of Maxime Lopez but the Marseille midfielder has quickly become a regular in the Ligue 1 side's first team. Big things are expected of the 19-year-old, who was named UNFP Player of the Month for December, and he has revealed a recent fascinating conversation with Reds representatives. "They [Liverpool] said to me, ‘in five years you get Coutinho’s place’. They approached me in a good way. I even met Steven Gerrard at the stadium after a game," Lopez told l'Equipe, as translated by Squawka. "I wanted to go there, but also to stay at Marseille. To go like that, at this age and even with your family, is very hard. "I had noticed that they had thirty young professional players, not to mention the incumbents. You really have to be mentally prepared." Lopez, a France U20 international, has been likened to former Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri, who swapped France for the Premier League in 2008. And with the constant transfer talk linking Coutinho with a move to Barcelona, Liverpool can't be blamed for keeping an eye on his potential successor but it remains to be seen whether or not that man will be Lopez.