Liverpool label Barcelona as liars after the claim that the Reds demanded £183million for Philippe Coutinho
The Spanish club made three unsuccessful transfer bids for the Brazil international
Liverpool have denied claims from Barcelona that they demanded £183 million for Philippe Coutinho.
The Spanish club made the Brazilian their number one summer target, but the Reds were adamant the midfielder would not be sold.
On Saturday, Barcelona director Albert Soler claimed the Reds priced the Catalan side out of a move.
He said: “Yesterday, at the last minute, after weeks of offers and conversations, Liverpool put a price on a player that we wanted,”
“[It was] a price of €200m and we decided not to do it.
“This club will not enter into this new way of understanding football. This club belongs to its members and we will not act irresponsibly.
Our priority are always sporting matters, but we have to manage our finances and there are limits that you cannot go beyond.”
However, the Liverpool Echo reports that senior Liverpool officials insist they never placed any such valuation on the player.
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Barca failed with three formal bids for the Brazil international,who handed in a transfer request.
The 25-year-old has missed the start of the Reds' campaign with a back injury amid interest from Barcelona.
Coutinho is currently on international duty and scored as Brazil beat Ecuador 2-0 on Thursday.