7 - Philippe Coutinho - V1

O

Ousmane Dembélé

Banned
Philippe Coutinho believes he has played his last game for Liverpool, but it will take an offer in the region of €150 million [about £133 million] from Barcelona if the Anfield club is to consider letting him leave this month.

Liverpool’s public refusal to recommit to their stance of the summer when the player was not for sale at any price has raised Coutinho’s hopes he can finally make a move to the Nou Camp.

He is already preparing the way to quit the club he joined for £8.5 million in January 2013 from Inter Milan, but the onus is on Barcelona to now back up their long-term pursuit of Coutinho having had three bids rejected in the summer.

The last of those offers was for £118 million, and included add-ons worth £36 million which would only be triggered if Coutinho reached personal landmarks such as winning the Ballon d’Or.

It would take an improved overall offer, and a more realistic package, to start a conversation with Liverpool, but it continues to be significant that the Premier League club will not say the player is not for sale.

Barcelona paid an initial £96.8 million, potentially rising to £135.5 million, when signing Ousmane Dembélé from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

Coutinho missed the New Year’s Day victory over Burnley with a minor thigh injury, but he did not play throughout the August transfer window due to a back problem as Barcelona repeatedly tried to force Liverpool’s hand.

He is also rated as a doubt for Friday’s FA Cup third round tie with neighbours Everton and there will be concern that any issue could linger while the window is open.

Jürgen Klopp was asked about the Nike advert advertising Barcelona shirts with Coutinho’s name on them – the Brazilian is sponsored by the sportswear company and a link to the advert appeared on the Catalan club’s website – during his post-match press conference at Turf Moor, but was again dismissive of the topic.

“I couldn’t be less interested in anything in the world, but somebody told me and I thought, ‘Wow’,” said the Liverpool manager.

He has consistently rebuffed any attempt to discuss Coutinho’s long-term future even when it was put to him that Liverpool’s season is at such stage that sanctioning the 25-year-old’s departure could adversely affect attempts to remain in the top four of the Premier League and hinder their Champions League campaign. Liverpool face Porto in the last 16 next month.

Coutinho is unable to play for Barcelona in Europe, and coach Ernesto Valverde’s side are nine points clear at the summit of La Liga.

However, it is clear Coutinho wants to leave in this transfer window and a report in Spain today indicated that he has told Liverpool he does not want to play for them again.

The saga is now dependent on two things: Barcelona’s next bid but also Liverpool’s response.

That, in itself, indicates a sea-change by Anfield officials whose stance was clearly defined from the moment Mike Gordon, president of Fenway Sports Group, told Coutinho he would not leave in the summer window during face to face talks at the start of August.

Klopp was asked last Friday about risking Liverpool’s season by selling Coutinho and his reluctance to discuss the matter.

He said: “I try to be honest but you know that in January and all the next transfer windows I don’t talk about that. Phil especially. There is nothing to say.

“The transfer window starts on 1 January and a few things will happen at other clubs. Something has happened at our club already [Virgil van Dijk signing]. I have nothing to say about it. The only thing I am interested in is how is Phil playing at the moment?

“I was really happy about the last few performances and his impact. He showed his character in the games and in the training sessions. He was spot on. That is what I am interested in. All the rest I can’t and I am not interested in talking about because if I open the door you [the media] will run all the way through. There is nothing to say.

“In my business it makes absolutely no sense to talk about things that could maybe happen because that creates stories that are 90 per cent of the time not true. Why should I do that? I will never do it to be honest.”

It was then specifically put to Klopp that he could end the Coutinho-Barcelona saga by saying he was not leaving.

“Then I would say something. You can write whatever you want, sorry,” he added.
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Above is the entire Joyce article that I found posted on reddit, it's behind a pay-wall on the website itself.
 
xXKonan

xXKonan

Senior Member
This is probably the first time this feels like this could actually be happening.

in the Summer you heard a lot of Spanish media talk about a move but the Liverpool/english side of the spectrum was confident that it wouldn't happen. Now the Mouth pieces and other English Media are talking now how it's possible instead of Nope we aren't selling.

Lets wait and see how this one pans out.
 
J

JamDav1982

Senior Member
Andresito said:
So we're going to be spending €300M on just two players, hope it pays off..
Click to expand...

After getting 222m for one.

It is unusual circumstances and is best bet for future of club.

Get this done and Griez in summer can almost step back from madness of market for a bit.
 
J

JamDav1982

Senior Member
Some beauties on reddit..

One guy claiming just the start of how low Barca will go and refers to the 'conventient' bite of Suarez during the WC.
 
Xaviniesta

Xaviniesta

Senior Member
Hall of Fame picture right here :love:

4Yg85M8m
 
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