The Liverpool play-maker may not be leaving after all with the Reds holding firm in spite of Barcelona’s interest.
Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague claims Barcelona have set a deadline of 7:00pm on Sunday evening for Liverpool to accept their final offer for Philippe Coutinho.
If the Reds do not respond positively, the La Liga club will pull their offer and look elsewhere, and Jurgen Klopp’s side have no intention of losing the Brazil international at this stage of the transfer window.
That will come as great news to those Liverpool fans who are desperate to see the 24-year-old remain at Anfield for at least another year, and in truth if Barca sign an alternative option if could be a while before they come back for Coutinho.
Klopp is fully aware of the importance of keeping his best players on Merseyside and Coutinho is one of Liverpool’s finest for many a year.
Balague claims that when Barcelona made their third and final offer for the player, they added the proviso that it would only remain on the table until this evening.
Liverpool said no then and they have no intention of changing their mind now, so if Barcelona really have set the deadline they have made a rod for their own back. The Reds can simply sit back and ignore it, forcing Barca to focus their attention elsewhere while there is still time.
Liverpool have signed Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Dominic Solanke so far this summer and that good work will be somewhat wasted if they sanction the late sale of Coutinho with little time to replace him.
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