Philippe Coutinho

[baitman]

Coutinho not leaving in January - Klopp

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42287688

[Rich]

I don’t believe for one moment he’ll leave in January. But I’d say he’s guaranteed to leave in the summer.

[Chris]

Yeah zero chance in January, would be the most bizarre time to sell him and simply not going to happen after how strong we stood previously. Who knows about next summer, he might be getting to a price where they'll struggle to afford him now and if Brazil won the world cup and he was awesome or something we should be asking for 250m at least. Or just preferably he stays, we'll be in the club world cup next year anyway and the South American's seem to love that so cant see him going.

[gratziani]

Apparently Phil didn't train the last two days , doubt for tomorrow

[marcus50bucks]

Liverpool, Philippe Coutinho and why the long goodbye at Anfield has already started
The rhetoric has changed when it comes to the Brazilian - it's now a question of when he moves to Spain

By James Pearce
05:00, 9 DEC 2017

There’s no question that the rhetoric has changed.

Last summer Liverpool were unequivocal that Philippe Coutinho was going nowhere.

From Fenway Sports Group’s statement that “no offers would be considered” to Jurgen Klopp declaring that “you couldn’t put a price” on the Brazil international.

Despite Barcelona’s refusal to take no for an answer and Coutinho stamping his feet and putting in a transfer request, Liverpool stood firm. Three offers, the final one a headline-grabbing bid of £118million when you included the hefty add-ons, were all instantly rejected.

Coutinho stayed put and knuckled down like Klopp knew he would. But the saga was never over and now it’s been re-ignited with the January window on the horizon.

Reports in Spain suggesting a £128million deal has already been struck should be taken with a pinch of salt. The same outlets had the 25-year-old down for an unveiling at the Camp Nou back in August.

But there’s no doubt that Barca’s desire to sign Anfield’s little magician remains as strong as ever and Coutinho’s longing to join the Catalan giants is unwavering.

Rather than dismiss a potential sale out of hand, Liverpool have been non-committal.

“I don’t have a crystal ball,” said CEO Peter Moore on Friday. “Maybe ask Jurgen when you see him later.”

Klopp, who earlier in the week said he was neither sure nor unsure that Coutinho would stay at Liverpool for the rest of the season, added: “Nobody came to me so far and said: ‘Phil will be away in January’.”

The reality is; it’s a question of when not if Coutinho heads to Spain.

Timing was everything last summer. Liverpool’s hierarchy knew that justifying the sale of Coutinho in August - on the cusp of the new season and with Liverpool returning to the Champions League would have been impossible. He had only signed a new five-year deal a few months earlier.

The Reds simply wouldn’t have been able to recruit a suitable replacement at that stage of the window and would have stood accused of showing a lack of ambition.

Klopp was fully on board with that decision but don’t expect him to make a habit of keeping players who declare that they would rather be elsewhere.

Now an offer in the region of £120million would certainly be given more consideration, whether that arrives in January or June.

Not only have Liverpool had time to prepare themselves for such an eventuality but this season has shown that while Coutinho remains massively influential, he’s not in a class of his own in Klopp’s squad. Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are arguably even more important to the manager.

Common sense would suggest that all parties decide to wait until next summer to do business. With Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League, he should want to stick around as he wouldn’t be eligible to play for Barca in the knockout stages.

But if it does happen in January, Liverpool will need to have something special up their sleeve - namely Virgil van Dijk, Naby Keita or preferably both.

Bolstering the backline is undoubtedly the priority and the Reds will move swiftly if Southampton soften their stance on Van Dijk. The Dutch centre-back remains desperate to play for Klopp.

RB Leipzig’s exit from the Champions League sparked renewed talk of Keita’s move to Anfield being brought forward from next summer but that remains a long shot.

While Liverpool agreed to pay a premium on top of the Guinea midfielder’s £48million release clause, there is no option which they could trigger to get him earlier than July 2018. That would need to be negotiated but the Bundesliga outfit are banking on Keita to stay and earn them a Champions League spot before his departure.

Wednesday night was one of the finest nights of Coutinho’s Liverpool career. Having been handed the captaincy, he walked away with the matchball after his first hat-trick for the Reds.

After a slow start to the campaign, he’s hit top form ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby. There are echoes of Luis Suarez four years ago after he was denied the move he wanted.

“Last summer there was a job offer in the same way that happens with any employee and I was interested in it,” Coutinho admitted after the demolition of Spartak Moscow. “Since I stayed, I have played with will and desire.”

Coutinho’s right but like Suarez before him this is the long goodbye.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport...odbye-14014755

There is no question that he will leave. I just hope it happens in the summer and not January

[Roboklopp]

**** off with always selling our best players.

[Fosterbloke]

We should look at Mahrez as a replacement.

[Norbs]

[Exiled_red]

**** off with always selling our best players.

[cream]

Not much love for him on here but he's imperious lately. Talent wise, can't think of many better than in the PL, man's a genius.

[Shaggy]

Not arsed what anyone says, he's better than De Bruyne, Pogba, and any other attacking mid in the Prem you care to mention. What a player.

[Chris]

Yep, he's immense, everyone talks about him leaving but I'm not even sure they can afford him now. If he has a great world cup he's 200m + easy.

[danperkins]

He was absolutely incredible, genius. His stats are going to be crazy come the end of the season.

[Roboklopp]

Goal was sublime. Way he holds onto possession on the final 3rd without relying on brute strength or speed. Yeah he’s really athletic, but it’s instinct and technique that fuels it.

[Exiled_red]

He's been fantastic, better this season than he's ever been.