So, here's the state of play in the Philippe Coutinho transfer saga.
Reports on Tuesday claimed that Coutinho
"believes he has played his last game for Liverpool" and he is quietly confident that his move to Barcelona will be completed this month. Liverpool's stance has not changed, they don't want to lose the player, and are under no pressure to sell him. However, according to reports, an offer of around
£133m (€150m) would make them consider selling him.
Liverpool rejected all three bids from the Catalan club for Coutinho last summer. The final bid was worth a potential £118m, yet Liverpool would only have got £36m of the fee if Coutinho reached certain milestones, such as winning the Ballon d'Or - which isn't going to happen as long as Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi are playing. The reports claims it will take "an improved overall offer, and a more realistic package, to start a conversation with Liverpool."
Basically, Barcelona need to stop messing around and trying to unsettle the player. They need to approach Liverpool with an offer that reflects the inflated transfer fees in the current market. However, the Anfield club don't have to sell the player, and he won't be sold against Jurgen Klopp's wishes.
Coutinho, meanwhile, missed Liverpool's 2-1 win over Burnley on New Year's Day, and will miss the FA Cup tie with Everton on Friday, with
transfer-itis a "thigh injury." The 25-year-old has yet to play a single game this season while the transfer window has been open.
If the reports are to be believed, it's very difficult to understand why Coutinho actually thinks he'll be leaving Liverpool this month. According to reports, the player believes he's about to join Barcelona because:
"Liverpool's public refusal to recommit to their stance of the summer when the player was not for sale at any price has raised Coutinho's hopes he can finally make a move to the Nou Camp."
It could be argued that this is embarrassing, and clutching at straws in the extreme. If this is true, Coutinho, his advisors, and Barcelona are focusing on a minor detail that points to a potential sale in the summer, rather than this month. At which point, the Brazilian will be sold on Liverpool's terms, and he won't come cheap.
Just as Barcelona need to get more "realistic" about their offer, it could be argued that Coutinho needs to start looking at this from a realistic perspective. There is nothing to suggest the club will, or should, sell him in January.
- Barcelona are nine points clear at the top of La Liga - they don't need him to win the league.
- Coutinho would be ineligible to play in the Champions League - so, he can't help Barca have success in Europe this season.
- Barcelona will still be interested in the summer - they've evidently been chasing him for quite a while, and are unlikely to drop their interest now.
- Liverpool need him to help them finish in the top four and for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
- He has four years left on his contract at Anfield, and doesn't have a buy-out clause.
- Liverpool have proven that they won't be bullied by Barcelona.
- If Liverpool didn't sell Coutinho before the season started, why would they do so now, and disrupt their season?
- Coutinho can't keep missing games if he wants to start for Brazil at the World Cup this summer.
When you add all of this up, it's impossible to come to any conclusion other than Coutinho staying at Liverpool until the summer. At which point, Barcelona will have to submit a bid that they find acceptable.
Coutinho seriously needs to get a grip and recognise that he'll have to wait until the summer to leave. The fact that Liverpool haven't publicly stated that he is not for sale really isn't enough of a reason to think the club will sell him in January. He's having a great season, and should just see it out with Liverpool. The deal will happen, but unfortunately for him, it will be on their terms and most likely in the summer.
