Philippe Coutinho

[Maxiedge]

I kind of feel that way also. If we get £120m for him then we've done pretty well out of it.

I reckon the reason he doesn't want to leave is his bromance with Bobby F..

£120m is a fair whack for a player who has never reached a level of consistency.

However, the are two issues that would play on my mind if he was to leave:

1) the transfer would have many similarities to us and Keita, but we were not able to get that one over the line

2) I currently don't have much faith in our envoy dealing with transfers to find a suitable replacement

[RedReet]

£120m is a fair whack for a player who has never reached a level of consistency.

However, the are two issues that would play on my mind if he was to leave:

1) the transfer would have many similarities to us and Keita, but we were not able to get that one over the line

2) I currently don't have much faith in our envoy dealing with transfers to find a suitable replacement

It hasn't helped that in his 5 years, we've changed managers 3 times and our overall form as a club has been pretty erratic. Put Coutinho in the Barca team, I doubt consistency will be a problem. Keep him fit in the No.8 role next year and I doubt consistency will be a problem.

[baitman]

£120m is a fair whack for a player who has never reached a level of consistency.

However, the are two issues that would play on my mind if he was to leave:

1) the transfer would have many similarities to us and Keita, but we were not able to get that one over the line

2) I currently don't have much faith in our envoy dealing with transfers to find a suitable replacement

i feel coutinho is on the verge of achieving the consistency that has been lacking, especially if he is played a bit deeper, and he will have some better class players who are in front of him who will make the right runs to take advantage of the little bits of fairy dust that he sprinkles around him.

i also worry that even if we did sell our scouts and 'buying team' all seem like ****ing amateurs and could sort a deal out to save their lives.

[Maxiedge]

It hasn't helped that in his 5 years, we've changed managers 3 times and our overall form as a club has been pretty erratic. Put Coutinho in the Barca team, I doubt consistency will be a problem. Keep him fit in the No.8 role next year and I doubt consistency will be a problem.

i feel coutinho is on the verge of achieving the consistency that has been lacking, especially if he is played a bit deeper, and he will have some better class players who are in front of him who will make the right runs to take advantage of the little bits of fairy dust that he sprinkles around him.

i also worry that even if we did sell our scouts and 'buying team' all seem like ****ing amateurs and could sort a deal out to save their lives.

It's wholly possible that he could hit new heights as you guys say, but I was just saying that, as facts stand, he's never really had a complete outstanding season and this transfer would make him the second most expensive player in world football. It will be tempting for FSG to sell.

[danperkins]

£120m is alot of money. I hope we don't sell as he's a magnificent player. If he goes, it would all depend on who we bring in. It's getting later and later in the window and options dwindle. IMO "if" we where going to sell him.. we would get replacements in before we let him go.

[dww]

£120m is alot of money. I hope we don't sell as he's a magnificent player. If he goes, it would all depend on who we bring in. It's getting later and later in the window and options dwindle. IMO "if" we where going to sell him.. we would get replacements in before we let him go.

Which replacements do you see on the market?

I have seen very few reasonable suggestions that could be available (most of them from the fringes of the Barca squad): Andre Gomes, Rafinha, Rakitić, Seri, Goretzka

I'm not sure any of them look like high odds options to come in and perform straight off (possibly Rakitić is the exception but also the most expensive and least likely to want to come in reality).

Even if a player or a couple of players come in then we will have to adapt our plans and they will have to get used to our way of playing. For me the disruption is highly unlikely to be something we can deal with at the start of the season.

[RedReet]

It's wholly possible that he could hit new heights as you guys say, but I was just saying that, as facts stand, he's never really had a complete outstanding season and this transfer would make him the second most expensive player in world football. It will be tempting for FSG to sell.

It’s a fair point, but I think it’s circumstance dictating the price as much as ability.

Obviously I rate Coutinho as a majestic footballer, but he’s not the second best footballer in the world as his price would suggest. If every player in Europe was available this summer, the figures spent on other players would no doubt eclipse what Barca are offering for Phil.

Likewise, if this spending in football continues, it might cost more than £120m to adequately replace him in a year's time.

[The_weatherman]

We need to keep him, selling him would be one step forward, two steps backwards. Even if we get less for him next summer I'd keep him at least for another season. I've been open to it in the past to sell him, but with Mane and Salah in front of him, and the difficulties of the market, I'd definately keep him for as long as possible. Preferably buy his replacement before we sell him.

[cream]

I kind of feel that way also. If we get £120m for him then we've done pretty well out of it.

I reckon the reason he doesn't want to leave is his bromance with Bobby F..

I'd agree with you if the club weren't so incompetent at recruitment. £50/60m would be enough if we knew how to reinvest it properly, as it stands £120m would be better spent developing the stadium.

[labourRed]

I'd agree with you if the club weren't so incompetent at recruitment. £50/60m would be enough if we knew how to reinvest it properly, as it stands £120m would be better spent developing the stadium.

Mmm, I actually think Klopp is very good at recruiting players, that's we it's also annoying we haven't signed nearly enough of them.

[BillobShaisley]

Which replacements do you see on the market?

I have seen very few reasonable suggestions that could be available (most of them from the fringes of the Barca squad): Andre Gomes, Rafinha, Rakitić, Seri, Goretzka

I'm not sure any of them look like high odds options to come in and perform straight off (possibly Rakitić is the exception but also the most expensive and least likely to want to come in reality).

Even if a player or a couple of players come in then we will have to adapt our plans and they will have to get used to our way of playing. For me the disruption is highly unlikely to be something we can deal with at the start of the season.

Some north African at Ajax allegedly. Had 20 assists and 9 goals last year.

No idea what that is in human years, with 90% of that league at pub standard but would seem to fit the template.

[Lecter]

Which replacements do you see on the market?

I have seen very few reasonable suggestions that could be available (most of them from the fringes of the Barca squad): Andre Gomes, Rafinha, Rakitić, Seri, Goretzka

I'm not sure any of them look like high odds options to come in and perform straight off (possibly Rakitić is the exception but also the most expensive and least likely to want to come in reality).

Even if a player or a couple of players come in then we will have to adapt our plans and they will have to get used to our way of playing. For me the disruption is highly unlikely to be something we can deal with at the start of the season.

The big thing about cash plus players is you just know Barcelona will **** us over with their valuation. I read one of the Spanish papers a few weeks ago suggesting Rakitic plus €20m would be enough!!!

Personally I would rather just have the cash

[Havors]

They could offer £200m it still doesnt make us have any replacements or additions to the squad lined up.

It would just be money to pay off the stadium... no replacement. Klopp resigns because they have made him look like a fool.

For me he stays this year, unless we do have a couple of targets ready to be snapped up.

[Kenneth]

There's no reason for us to accept one, Barca are now cash rich. If we want one of their players we can bid for one

[dww]

The big thing about cash plus players is you just know Barcelona will **** us over with their valuation. I read one of the Spanish papers a few weeks ago suggesting Rakitic plus €20m would be enough!!!

Personally I would rather just have the cash

My impression is that partly because of this and partly because of the complexity of individual deals there are very rarely actual 'swap deals' these days. I would think that the likely thing is that part of the negotiating process for Coutinho would involve discussing their players availability.