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Philippe Coutinho: Liverpool reject third Barcelona bid for Brazil midfielder

By Phil McNultyChief football writer

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments577

Liverpool have rejected a third bid from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho - believed to be in the region of £114m.

Last week, the Reds rejected a £90m bid from the Spanish giants for the 25-year-old Brazil attacking midfielder, who then submitted a transfer request.

Coutinho has missed the opening two games of Liverpool's season with a back injury, but the club has repeatedly stressed he is not for sale.

Despite that, Barca have previously said they are "close" to signing him.

On Thursday, responding to Barcelona general manager Pep Segura's claim that a deal was close, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said: "I don't know why other people are saying what they are saying.

"I don't even know them - especially this guy. I've never even met him."

The La Liga side have moved for Coutinho after selling Brazil team-mate Neymar to Paris St-Germain for a world record transfer fee of £200m.

Coutinho signed a new five-year deal at Anfield in January, which did not include a release clause.

He is also set to miss Saturday's home Premier League match against Crystal Palace (15:00 BST kick-off).

Analysis - 'Reds' mood has not altered'

Liverpool's instant dismissal of Barcelona's third offer is further hard evidence of the determination within the club that they will not be forced into selling their prize asset under any circumstances.

Fenway Sports Group, and manager Klopp, remain unmoved by Barcelona's increased financial inducements - as well as a transfer request from a player who has clearly had his head turned.

Liverpool regard this latest bid, understood to be about £114m, as irrelevant because their stance, as it has been from day one, is that Coutinho will not be sold.

But questions remain. Will Barcelona take the hint and walk away? Will Coutinho, sidelined by a back injury, accept his dream move will not come to fruition and eventually return to the fold? Will his unhappiness increase at the prospect of a switch to the Nou Camp slipping away?

For all the noises coming out of Barcelona that a move is "close", it remains as far away as the day they made their first approach. Liverpool's mood has not altered.

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577 comments

  • Comment posted by Moon, at 16:36 18 Aug 2017

    Barcelona have a lot of money, not a lot of time, and have an urgent need for a midfielder, in a market where nobody wants to sell

    If Liverpool sell him, then we will have less money, less time, and an urgent need for a midfielder. Absolutely no sense to sell him right now

  • Comment posted by keithf, at 16:36 18 Aug 2017

    Hope they stick to it. Players need to stick to contracts.

  • Comment posted by Watfordfan91, at 16:44 18 Aug 2017

    Seeing as Watford were scrutinised for not accepting large bids for both Deeney and Ighalo in the past, I completely support Liverpool's stance on this. It's not about what the player is worth, it's about showing you won't be walked over and won't be forced into a sale by a player or another club. If you don't need the money, why give in?

  • Comment posted by User0970327127, at 16:42 18 Aug 2017

    I'd happily swap him for Luis Suarez. Otherwise forget it.

  • Comment posted by User0905792055, at 16:35 18 Aug 2017

    I genuinely don't see why the massive interest? Panic stations at Barca??

  • Comment posted by Niskala, at 16:36 18 Aug 2017

    1. Matt83

    What's the point? LFC don't need the money - they need players. Selling him would be madness without a replacement and FSG will not re-invest the money so it's a no-brainer.

  • Comment posted by Pegster, at 16:34 18 Aug 2017

    Coutinho needs to Knuckle down and concentrate on playing for Liverpool this season.

  • Comment posted by U16688859, at 16:46 18 Aug 2017

    26. not a liverpool supporter but your post is despicable a day after terrorist attack in barcelona. you need to show respect to those grieving families . you are a lowlife who should be banned from permanently. keep your cheap comments to yourself.

  • Comment posted by User0571431412, at 16:36 18 Aug 2017

    Jog on Barcelona.

    Se Quera.
    HE STAYS.

  • Comment posted by Dom, at 17:35 18 Aug 2017

    I'm a United supporter and I understand that Liverpool losing their best players is ordinarily what I'd like in this case I have to say fair play to Liverpool.

    Barca and Madrid have to learn that they can't just poach the best players from the Prem.

    Pool should make a ridiculous offer for Suarez to counter Barca and make them state that he's not for sale.

  • Comment posted by PranR17, at 17:18 18 Aug 2017

    @172 "Disgraceful conduct from a disgraceful club. No ethics, effectively modern slavery holding a player against his will when he is in the prime of his career."

    Is that a wind up? If he was so desperate to leave he shouldn't have signed a 5 year contract 6 months ago!

  • Comment posted by User0345726928, at 17:21 18 Aug 2017

    Stick to it. Just as Southampton and Leipzig have done, just say 'no'. Sick of greedy players and even greedier agents thinking the clubs must do as they wish. Get to work Mr Coutinho and earn your Liverpool salary

  • Comment posted by Richard Hillary, at 16:47 18 Aug 2017

    Stick to it Liverpool, and Arsenal with Sanchez. It's about time the balance of power was shifted back a little more to the clubs. If Coutinho refuses to play or plays badly it will only reflect on his value if he ever moves.

  • Comment posted by Blockfeet, at 16:42 18 Aug 2017

    Spurs fan. Feel sorry for Liverpool having to deal with this issue, so disruptive at start of season. Spurs had it for years with Modric, Bale and others. He's a great player and makes the Liverpool team tick.

  • Comment posted by Capt Beefheart, at 16:42 18 Aug 2017

    the money is irrelevant you can't sell one of your best players just before the end of the transfer season with no one else in place. Mind you we could take Suarez back from them ;)

  • Comment posted by muz2549, at 17:24 18 Aug 2017

    I'm no Liverpool fan but good on them, he was quite happy to sign a new 5 year deal, yet another agent wants to make some serious money,if these clubs do not stand up to other clubs when they are under contract then these agents will end up running football transfers, there almost there now, I would rather see a player go on a free than give an agent a cut of millions, well done Liverpool

  • Comment posted by Dazzler, at 16:38 18 Aug 2017

    @1. I agree he isn't worth that kind of money. But at the same time the club don't have time to replace him so why would they let him go? We've seen in the past that Liverpool make massive profits on players (Torres / Suarez etc) but then not replace them with similar quality!

  • Comment posted by wedontcarrybottles, at 17:20 18 Aug 2017

    Oh god !

    Here come the uneducated mancs

  • Comment posted by Alexiocity, at 17:13 18 Aug 2017

    Good. Player signed a contact. It's about time a team actually enforced the things. If he wasn't smart enough to put a release clause into it, then Liverpool should be well within their right to keep him.

  • Comment posted by parkylanestreet, at 16:48 18 Aug 2017

    Understand the frustration of LFC and that's from an Evertonian, We had all this with John Stones and the sheer wretchedness of Chelsea's behaviour was terrible. No means no. The yanks should stand firm. Or at least until Christmas and if the player has the hump it's reserves for him.

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