Philippe Coutinho might be entering his last few days in Liverpool if reports emanating from sources close to the player are to be believed. According to sources, the Brazil midfield sensation’s heart is set on completing a switch to Barcelona after the Catalan giants reignited their interest in the player by making an improved bid of around £142 million for his services. A break down of the latest bid shows that £106m of the sum will be paid up front, with the rest based on appearances and trophy-related bonuses.
Coutinho moved to Liverpool from Inter Milan in 2013 for a reported £8.5m and at the time of his arrival at Anfield was a raw but supremely talented youngster. The Brazilian has gone on to fulfil his incredible potential, developing into one of the finest playmakers in the world and delivering series of epic performances that have given so much joy to Anfield faithfuls and have now convinced Barça that he is the most suitable heir to Andres Iniesta. A player gifted with a breathtaking technical ability, Coutinho, was an understated enabler to Liverpool’s famed SAS pair of Sturridge abd Suares and following the sale of the latter to Barcelona, he helped ease the Anfield club through the transition period and is now an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s fab four.
For such a prodigiously talented player, it comes as an anomaly that the Brazil International has not lifted a single trophy during a four year sojourn on the Merseyside. And it is perhaps a key part of his reasons for wanting to depart to a club that guarantees a regular haul of trophies every season, in addition to offering him the chance to play with arguably the best player in the world,Lionel Messi. Were the Brazilian to depart, as it is believed he would, he would definitely be classed among a select group of prodigiously talented players, such as Xabi Alonso, Javier Macherano and Luis Suares, who inspite of their supreme abilites never quite got to lift a trophy with the Reds.
Barcelona are desperate to get their target and have been quick to register a bid that is sure to test the resolve of Liverpool’s hierarchy. The Catalan giants, after selling Neymar to Paris St. Germain in the Summer, had looked to sign Coutinho as a star replacement for his Brazil teammate. Liverpool, on the occasion, had refused to accept any offer for their star player, turning down three bids from Barça even in the face of an open request by the player to leave.
While it is believed that the Anfield side are presently not as averse to losing the magical Brazilian as they were in the Summer, given the riches they have up front, a January switch is still regarded as inconvenient given the club’s champion league hopes, a competition where they are considered as outside favourites. Were Coutinho to leave this January, he would be ineligible to participate in the competition with Barça as he’ll be cup tied.
The Liverpool board have tried to persuade Coutinho to stay and even presented him with an improved contract as bait, but the player has remained defiant that he needs to leave to the Nou Camp this month.
Meanwhile Jurgen Klopp told a news conference he has “nothing to say” about the matter ahead of his team’s FA Cup Merseyside derby against Everton on Friday.