Liverpool are desperate to hold on to their star attacker and Philippe Coutinho clearly has an affection for the club, but if Barcelona do offer a substantial offer, the payer could not be frowned upon for leaving.
Barcelona attract many of the world’s greatest players and it looks like they have a big desire to bring Philippe Coutinho to Catalonia, but are afraid that Liverpool will not do business, according to the Sun.
Liverpool have every need to keep hold of their play-maker as he is a catalyst for so many things at Anfield and losing him would dent Liverpool’s title and Champions League hopes.
Coutinho playing in the Leicester City v Liverpool pre-season friendly
Having had a bid for £72 million turned down by Liverpool for Coutinho, according to the Sun, Barcelona are perhaps put out by Klopp’s important message: “We are not a selling club.”
But it is Coutinho who holds all the cards. If he wanted to leave, Liverpool would no doubt find a way to find another player of great quality. But the fact that Coutinho has not leaped at the chance to go to Barcelona would suggest that he is settled at Liverpool and wants to see their Champions League through.
It is admirable and surely very pleasing to Liverpool fans that the Brazilian possibly feels this way. But Coutinho, 25, is capable of becoming a better player and with new experiences that development could come quicker to him.
Klopp has had a couple of seasons with Coutinho and has got the best he can out of the player. But is there another level the Brazilian could get to?
It is only when Coutinho goes up against the best in Europe that fans can really assess if he is a match on the world stage to some of the best players.
La Liga is not something the player is unacquainted with, having made 16 appearances for Espanyol in 2012. But if he prefers the excitement of the Premier League it is Liverpool’s gain.
Coutinho weaves his magic in the Liverpool against Crystal Palace Premier League Asia Trophy match
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
