Liverpool rejected an opening offer of £72 million for Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona on Thursday night, saying he was not for sale this summer – at any price.
The Spanish record champions had previously put their long-term offer for the Brazilian international on hold because they considered it “impossible” from a financial and sporting point of view after he signed a new five-year contract with no release clause in January. The club now feels pressured to make his move after Paris Saint-Germain set a world record in their pursuit of Neymar.
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The French club are willing to pay €222 million (£199 million) for the striker – the transfer fee stipulated in his contract – after including Coutinho himself in their ambitious recruitment drive.
PSG have not made a formal request for Liverpool’s highest-paid player and the Reds have explicitly stated that none of them are welcome.
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This was clearly evident in the way the Reds rejected Barca’s offer. Jürgen Klopp reiterated on Tuesday that they “will not lose any player we want to keep this summer.”
Coutinho is aware that he is at the centre of the manager’s ambitions and his happiness at Anfield was confirmed by his willingness to sign a new contract with no release clause at the turn of 2017.
“I signed this new contract to stay here for a few more years because it is a great honor for me,” he said at the time.
“It makes me very happy because from day one I was welcomed with open arms by everyone in the club and the fans.
“I am very grateful to this football club for everything.”
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Liverpool’s attitude towards Coutinho, who is not on the market, is similar to RB Leipzig’s attitude towards Naby Keita, who is Klopp’s primary target in midfield.
The Bundesliga club has rejected two offers for the Guinean international, saying it would be “practically impossible” for the Reds to go through with the deal.
