Philippe Coutinho

[Liverpool]

whats annoying is, that he likes being here but would just prefer to be at barca. The one club capable of unsettling him

[Fosterbloke]

It will be Phil now and Mo next summer.

Yup Salah is next

Not if we're competing at the highest level and paying good wages, there's no reason for them to move. Most clubs have resisted selling their best (De Gea, Hazard, KDB etc) but they've always competed (or paid a **** tonne at Man Utd)

Also, is Spain as accommodating to Muslim players?

[Leyton388]

They've managed to keep their best players as they have been winning stuff. When we get close to or look on the brink of something special we sell our best player and have to start all over again.

[BobTheCharmer]

Yup Salah is next

Really?

He's not from South America. Does he dream to play there? Even if we were the best team in England and winning the league we still wouldn't keep the likes of Phil and Luis. Apart from money it's the alure of playing for the 2 giants of world football. Ronaldo left Utd to fulfil his legacy.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Surely we'd have to be looking at the likes of Lemar, Pulisic or Fekir.

Fekir or Draxler plus one from Saul, Fabinho or Goretzka


Gives us an attacking player plus a serious upgrade at CM. Then come the summer Keita slots in with them.



Am simply not settling for one player unless he is Dybala, or Veratti

[Leyton388]

Balague now saying that Barca will soon bid 150m euros, but that it'll be 110 up front and 40 in add ons. Also says that Liverpool haven't lowered their price (but hasn't said what that price is).

**** lowball offer just like their summer one. Watch what the ridiculous add ons will be. They've played their little tricks now so are hoping to get him on the cheap.

[Tee]

It also boils down to the reality that we have rarely challenged for the very top honours since the Rafa era....it would have been a completely different case if we were regularly challenging for titles and playing in the CL every season.

As he approaches his prime years this move just makes sense for him on a professional and private level. We know the Latin players aspire to play for Real or Barca since childhood, and living in a country that is more aligned to their culture just makes it even more of a draw.

Reality is he is gone and we should concentrate on making sure we sign the best replacement possible.

[BigChief]

Balague now saying that Barca will soon bid 150m euros, but that it'll be 110 up front and 40 in add ons. Also says that Liverpool haven't lowered their price (but hasn't said what that price is).

**** lowball offer just like their summer one. Watch what the ridiculous add ons will be. They've played their little tricks now so are hoping to get him on the cheap.

That's old numbers so ballbag is just re quoting. Got a feeling Barca aren't that interested in getting him in January but don't want to be seen as not trying in case it pisses Phil/Leo off.

Both clubs hoping the window shuts and he stays at Liverpool for a few more months while claiming some sort of moral victory or principle stand.

[Fosterbloke]

They need to pay €130m minimum up front with €20m in add-ons.

£115m in one go plus some extra cash would help us sign (notwithstanding convincing them to join!) a brilliant keeper (Oblak - £60m) and another central midfielder (Verrati - £90m).

We already had the money for Keita, Van Dijk and Lemar so Coutinho money is a bonus for me.

[Exiled_red]

They need to pay €130m minimum up front with €20m in add-ons.

£115m in one go plus some extra cash would help us sign (notwithstanding convincing them to join!) a brilliant keeper (Oblak - £60m) and another central midfielder (Verrati - £90m).

We already had the money for Keita, Van Dijk and Lemar so Coutinho money is a bonus for me.

IMO we should be looking for more than that.

I have a feeling that Barcelona don't have the money avaliable to pay what we want hence all the low ball offers and backend add on deals. And their tactics are (like normal) to unsettle the player through the media and try to bully us into a deal. I think if he goes in this window then Barcelona will get a bargain deal. Whereas if we let him go we're going to be screwed

[calvoboy]

If he goes in Jan when they have a 9 point lead in la Liga, and he’s cup tied in the champions league, and when we need him for the rest of the season...then I hope he gets the same abuse as Torres and Owen had.

However, if he goes in the summer for the sums quoted then he could do so with dignity as Suarez did.

[Buzzo]

Absolutely no way we should be selling him on the cheap.

He's tied in to a decent contract, and in the form of his life. As mentioned the upcoming WC can only really assist in inflating his price. Barca will need to pay massive £'s to get him, same as we did for VVD.

[Norbs]

If he goes in Jan when they have a 9 point lead in la Liga, and he’s cup tied in the champions league, and when we need him for the rest of the season...then I hope he gets the same abuse as Torres and Owen had.

However, if he goes in the summer for the sums quoted then he could do so with dignity as Suarez did.

Spot on. Like I said earlier though, we're competing against Barca on one front and them buying him now weakens us significantly. I think we're in with a good shout of winning it with him still here, maybe Barca feel the same

[poorscousertommy]

They need to pay €130m minimum up front with €20m in add-ons.

£115m in one go plus some extra cash would help us sign (notwithstanding convincing them to join!) a brilliant keeper (Oblak - £60m) and another central midfielder (Verrati - £90m).

We already had the money for Keita, Van Dijk and Lemar so Coutinho money is a bonus for me.

Keira £52m, Virgil £75m and Lemar £92m apparently equates to £219m. I'd love you to be correct but there is no way we are spending a further £130m on top of that! That'd make city look small time in the next transfer window!

[poorscousertommy]

Even with Keita and Virgil being already agreed I would be shocked if we spent a further £200m plus in the summer.