It won’t be long before the January transfer window is open, and when it does, it appears that Philippe Coutinho potentially going to Barcelona will again be the dominant narrative. The storyline of the Liverpool attacking midfielder possibly moving to Barca dominated the summer transfer window as Liverpool rejected three big money bids from the Catalan club.
Coutinho was left extremely frustrated by the failure of his transfer to go through, and thus had to slowly ease his way into this season, but once he did the Brazilian has been crushing it.
He’s scored nine times in 13 appearances for the Reds, who demolished Spartak Moscow 7-0 yesterday to win their UEFA Champions League Grouping, and help England make history. Liverpool are one of five English teams, four of which won their group, to advance to the knockout round. No other country has ever done that.
Barcelona is one of the three remaining group winners, and wouldn’t it truly be something if they are paired with the Reds in the draw on Monday? Coutinho has declared that he will do his best for Liverpool in the short term, but also did not rule out a move to Barcelona in January. Additionally, he refused to say that he will be at Anfield for the long haul.
“I am at Liverpool and I always do my best when I have the opportunity to play, respecting the jersey and the supporters,” Coutinho said. “I do not know how the future is going to be. What will happen in January, we will know it in January. I do not know if there will be an offer.
“Last summer there was a job offer in the same way that happens with any employee and I was interested in it. Since I stayed I have played with will and desire.
“Of course a lot happened in the summer but my will is always to play and do the best wherever I am; that has not changed.”
“I am here, we have a lot of games and I try to do my best to help.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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