It emerged yesterday from Qatar that the Leicester man would be the player to come in following Coutinho’s departure.
They were seemingly premature with reports later coming out to state Liverpool have no interest in the Algeria international and the £50million fee touted is way below what the Foxes are after.
However, with questions marks still over Mahrez’s future following his transfer deadline day exploits in the summer in trying to force through a move, the tricky winger would seemingly be keen on a move away from the King Power Stadium.
And Aldridge believes Mahrez’s experience in the English top flight puts him at the top of the list of players Liverpool should be targeting.
“If you look at the way Coutinho plays, he [Mahrez] is very similar,” Aldridge told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“He is older, he has played in the Premier League for some years and everybody has seen the ability he has got, so he ticks a lot of boxes.
“You need that type of player similar to Coutinho who sees that pass, can do something extraordinary outside the box, can bend it in the top corner and is good on free-kicks as well.”
Aldridge went on to warn the club to be smart with reinvesting the money in the squad.
“I am not surprised but disappointed he is leaving because he is a fantastic player to watch,” Aldridge added.
“£140million is a lot of money and Liverpool have to spend it wisely.
“They have spent £75million of it wisely on Virgil van Dijk – a player we have needed for some time in a leader at the back – but he [Coutinho] needs replacing and we have got to do it ASAP.”
