Liverpool FC have repeatedly told Barcelona that star player Philippe Coutinho is not for sale, but that has not stopped the Catalan giants from aggressive heavy pursuit. Despite multiple warnings from Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp that the Brazilian is not for sale, not at any price, Barca went all in with a £72 million bid.
The offer, which would have made Coutinho the seventh most expensive player of all time, was rejected. However, don’t expect these latest developments to be the end of this story. We have not heard the last of this narrative.
Coutinho signed a five-year contract in January, with the Anfield outfit making sure that no release clause was inserted as part of the new deal.
Klopp was asked if Coutinho was not for sale at a news conference on Friday, and the German responded: “Yes, but that’s not since this morning or yesterday, it’s not been any different. Phil is a very important player for us. He’s trying to get back his rhythm but there’s no doubt about his quality. He’s very smart both offensively and defensively.”
“The nice news is that he’s still young. He has improved a lot since I’ve been here and he can still improve a lot. I’m not surprised that any club is interested in players at Liverpool.”
That said, Liverpool FC fan Twitter is producing a lot of colorful and entertaining reaction to this news. Here are some of the better Coutinho related Tweets:
Liverpool taking care of any bids from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho?? pic.twitter.com/y2eWXXhRVI
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) July 21, 2017
I wouldn't sell Coutinho for £300 million because we wouldn't know what to do with it.
— – (@AnfieldRd96) July 21, 2017
Klopp: Coutinho is not for sale. #backoffbarca pic.twitter.com/gcFNrXld4W
— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) July 21, 2017
Why would Coutinho want to go to Barca to play with Messi when we have big Dom Solanke?
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) July 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/MrNickMason/status/888280185056804864
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.