The Reds legend believes it could be near impossible for the club to keep their star man.
Former Liverpool star Mark Lawrenson has warned that it may be almost impossible for the club to keep hold of key man Philippe Coutinho, and stressed to PA Sport that the club should already be preparing for his exit, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
Coutinho has been perhaps the Reds’ brightest star in the last few years after joining from Inter Milan in January 2013, scoring 34 goals in 157 appearances in all competitions for the club.
The attacking midfielder was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award last season and has begun this campaign in lightning form, racking up six goals and five assists in just 11 appearances.
That form has seen him linked to a host of Europe’s top clubs, and former Barcelona captain Xavi said earlier this week that the Brazilian would be a perfect fit at the Nou Camp, although he advised Coutinho to remain focused on life at Anfield for now.
Liverpool have maintained that they have no inclination to sell their prize asset, who still has three-and-a-half years left to run on his current deal.
However, Lawrenson has nevertheless suggested that the Reds may find it difficult to hold onto their man, and stressed that the club hierarchy should already be planning for life without the star.
The former Reds hero said, via the Echo: “Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid to a certain degree, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich are the clubs continually successful in Europe.
“You can’t keep those top players if those clubs come in for them. I don’t think, apart from arguably Manchester City, anyone can stop them.
“The clever thing is to plan for it. Rather than say ‘Coutinho might be going, what are we going to do?’ you have something in place already.”
Liverpool fans will likely not be too happy at the thought of having to prepare for life without Coutinho, but the club would be wise to do so.
Jurgen Klopp will have his own transfer targets, and he will surely have a back-up plan for losing the Brazilian.
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