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26th Jul 2017

Philippe Coutinho agrees deal to join Barcelona

Farewell Philippe?

Nooruddean Choudry

It would be such a shame for him to leave just before his prime.

Jurgen Klopp has tried to be emphatic as he can be regarding Philippe Coutinho’s future. He is a Liverpool player, is happy to be a Liverpool and will remain a Liverpool player. Indeed, the Brazilian signed a new five year contract contract only six months ago, worth a hefty £8m/year. The deal extended his previous deal by two years, keeping him at Anfield until 2022.

But as we all know, contracts mean little in the modern game. Rather than indicating that a player will stay at a club for X amount of years, it is more an insurance policy by clubs to maintain transfer market value and some level of control over their player’s destiny. It also means you can play hardball and, if worst comes to worst, force an unhappy player to stay.

Coutinho does not seem the type of kick up a fuss, but according to widespread reports in Spain and Catalonia, he has reportedly agreed a deal to join Barcelona, who are very publicly courting the player. RAC1 have gone big on the 25-year-old agreeing personal terms with the Camp Nou outfit, with the headline: ‘Total agreement between Barça and Coutinho’.

SPORT believe that a deal can be done for €100m, and claim things are so progressed that a Barca consortium are in England to negotiate a deal. The tabloid’s headline reads: ‘The Attack for Coutinho’. Time will tell whether the lure of Camp Nou or pull of Anfield wins out.