According to BBC Sport, Liverpool will sign Nacional centre-back Sebastián Coates for £12 million.
The 6'6" 20-year-old Uruguyan is set to fill the void left by Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who moved to Wolfsburg on a free transfer.
For the Liverpool fans who didn't watch the Copa América or don't follow Nacional, here are the seven things you must know about your new defensive acquisition.
1. When A.C. Milan bought Kaká, his younger, and less talented, brother Digão came as part of the package. With Liverpool, not only have they bought one of the best forwards in the world, Luis Suárez's influence in bringing along compatriot and talented youngster Sebastián Coates should be thanked.
Rather then sit idly and watch as the saga unfolded, Suárez rung Coates up and told him to come to Liverpool.
Coates said, "He [Suárez] got in touch with me and we had a chat. It is good there is another Uruguayan already in the team - it is easier if there is someone I know well."
Rather then sit idly and watch as the saga unfolded, Suárez rung Coates up and told him to come to Liverpool.
Coates said, "He [Suárez] got in touch with me and we had a chat. It is good there is another Uruguayan already in the team - it is easier if there is someone I know well."
2. Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was hopeful of signing Sebastián Coates (though apparently management said no more spending).
Not that it would have mattered given that Coates told Ovacion,
"I'd prefer Liverpool to Manchester City [...] The Liverpool offer ticks all boxes, so fair to say it's a done deal. Luis's success is important for me as another Uruguayan joining."
3. For someone as imposing as Sebastián Coates is, he's not particuarly physical—certainly nowhere near as psycho as partner Diego Lugano.
The more games you watch of Coates, the more you find yourself uttering good positional sense.
Certainly from a defensive perspective, his football IQ is very high in predicting or having a good idea of where the opposing player will go.
Lugano is kneejerk, body on the line, overaggressive and safety first; Coates is the opposite in being calm, cool and, when in possession, looks up and surveys which option is best.
However, this could also be a bad thing as there were certain instances where he was very close to losing possession because he dibble dabbled.
The 2009 Copa Libertadores semifinal springs to mind, where it was Coates being too slow to release the ball which led to Mauro Boselli, the Wigan Athletic flop, scoring for Estudiantes.
4. Sebastián Coates wasn't supposed to start for Uruguay in the Copa América, nor was he even in the picture to be a legitimate partner to Diego Lugano.
If not for an untimely injury to first choice centre-back Diego Godín, and then an injury to backup Mauricio Victorino, Coates would have warmed the benches.
Credit to him who took the opportunity and ran with it.
5. Sebastián Coates was an excellent foil to Diego Lugano, who was winning challenges left, right and centre.
I ranked Coates as the sixth best player in the Copa América, with his partner Lugano ranking in at third.
Coates was easily the standout young player in the tournament and was awarded the Trophy Claro (though I do wonder if Coates would have played so well if he wasn't partnered up with Lugano).
For Coates to succeed, he needs to play with a more dominant, a more aggressive, a more fearless centre-back.
6. Back in June, a month before the Copa América, Ovacion reportedthat São Paulo was close to signing Sebastián Coates.
Obviously after Coates' breakout performances, European clubs like Porto, Manchester City and Liverpool became very interested.
Porto would have been a good stepping stone, but it seems Coates is confident he can break into the Liverpool first 11 and cement a position. I was wikiing Sami Hyypiä to see how old he was when he signed for Liverpool, but lo and behold, he shares the same birthday as Sebastián Coates.
7. I was wondering if anyone has noticed it, but I found out it was already a widespread reported little fact; which just goes to show how many people notice odd quirky things like me.
Oh and if you were wondering, Hyypiä was 25 years old when he signed for Liverpool.
Not that it would have mattered given that Coates told Ovacion,
"I'd prefer Liverpool to Manchester City [...] The Liverpool offer ticks all boxes, so fair to say it's a done deal. Luis's success is important for me as another Uruguayan joining."
3. For someone as imposing as Sebastián Coates is, he's not particuarly physical—certainly nowhere near as psycho as partner Diego Lugano.
The more games you watch of Coates, the more you find yourself uttering good positional sense.
Certainly from a defensive perspective, his football IQ is very high in predicting or having a good idea of where the opposing player will go.
Lugano is kneejerk, body on the line, overaggressive and safety first; Coates is the opposite in being calm, cool and, when in possession, looks up and surveys which option is best.
However, this could also be a bad thing as there were certain instances where he was very close to losing possession because he dibble dabbled.
The 2009 Copa Libertadores semifinal springs to mind, where it was Coates being too slow to release the ball which led to Mauro Boselli, the Wigan Athletic flop, scoring for Estudiantes.
4. Sebastián Coates wasn't supposed to start for Uruguay in the Copa América, nor was he even in the picture to be a legitimate partner to Diego Lugano.
If not for an untimely injury to first choice centre-back Diego Godín, and then an injury to backup Mauricio Victorino, Coates would have warmed the benches.
Credit to him who took the opportunity and ran with it.
5. Sebastián Coates was an excellent foil to Diego Lugano, who was winning challenges left, right and centre.
I ranked Coates as the sixth best player in the Copa América, with his partner Lugano ranking in at third.
Coates was easily the standout young player in the tournament and was awarded the Trophy Claro (though I do wonder if Coates would have played so well if he wasn't partnered up with Lugano).
For Coates to succeed, he needs to play with a more dominant, a more aggressive, a more fearless centre-back.
6. Back in June, a month before the Copa América, Ovacion reportedthat São Paulo was close to signing Sebastián Coates.
Obviously after Coates' breakout performances, European clubs like Porto, Manchester City and Liverpool became very interested.
Porto would have been a good stepping stone, but it seems Coates is confident he can break into the Liverpool first 11 and cement a position. I was wikiing Sami Hyypiä to see how old he was when he signed for Liverpool, but lo and behold, he shares the same birthday as Sebastián Coates.
7. I was wondering if anyone has noticed it, but I found out it was already a widespread reported little fact; which just goes to show how many people notice odd quirky things like me.
Oh and if you were wondering, Hyypiä was 25 years old when he signed for Liverpool.
