While the 2017 summer transfer window hasn’t seen a lot of blockbuster deals, the major moves could still be coming. We’ve seen a lot of money spent, as Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all broke their club transfer fee records, but the names moving on to new teams haven’t been the biggest as of yet.
That could all change if Neymar does actually complete his reported move to Paris Saint-Germain, and then the deal triggers a chain reaction.
Liverpool have made it clear that Philippe Coutinho is not for sale, having turned down a £72 million Barcelona offer, but that could change if Neymar moves on to PSG. Coutinho, LFC’s best overall player, could be the next domino to fall after Neymar, given the cash infusion Barca would get from the deal.
What would Liverpool do with the money they would hypothetically acquire? According to former Reds striker Dean Saunders, they should sell Coutinho and get Juan Mata from Manchester United.
Saunders also sees Gylfi Sigurdsson and Real Madrid star Isco as potential replacements w
“For me, £100million? Sell him. Sell him,” Saunders told Talksport when asked about Coutinho. “For £100m, he’s replaceable. You could sign Isco for £30m. He’s not going to get a game at Real Madrid. Juan Mata, Sigurdsson. There’s players you can sign to replace Coutinho.”
Saunders went on to praise Coutinho but also reiterated that he’s not irreplaceable. He doesn’t see Coutinho being on the same level as Luis Suarez, who Anfield sold Barca in 2014.
“Suarez – irreplaceable. There’s certain players who are irreplaceable,” Saunders continued. “Coutinho’s replaceable for me. £100m? The last game I watched, he was brilliant, he made the difference in pre-season but £100m?
“And by the way, once they knock the door as a player he’s gone.”
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.
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