OK, you can go
Liverpool finally relent Coutinho’s move to Barcelona
LONDON: Liverpool are reportedly ready to negotiate Philippe Coutinho’s big-money move to Barcelona.
Spanish newspaper Sport claims the Reds have performed an incredible U-turn after owners Fenway Sports Group and Coutinho’s representatives held a meeting with a “very positive outcome” on Friday.
It said that the Brazilian’s continual pressure on Liverpool to let him join Barcelona has finally paid off.
And the Reds will now cash in to the sum of anywhere between £138mil (RM763mil) and £148mil (RM818mil), with a replacement already in the works.
On Monday, Liverpool have launched an incredible £55mil (RM304mil) bid for Monaco playmaker Thomas Lemar.
The France international is also wanted by Arsenal but could now be heading to Anfield as Coutinho’s replacement.
The report adds that Juergen Klopp tried convincing the Liverpool board he could manage the situation and convince Coutinho to stay.
But the powers that be have decided they are better taking a massive wad of cash from Barca and using it to boost the squad days before the transfer deadline.
The money could also help Liverpool finally land the new central midfielder they’ve been craving, with Bayern Munich’s Renato Sanches the latest to be linked to Merseyside.
Bayern left the ace out of their matchday squad at the weekend.
And Sanches could now be set to join Lemar at Liverpool in a sensational double swoop.
Meanwhile, Brazil doctor and long-term friend of Coutinho, Michael Simoni, confirmed the Liverpool star’s back problem is due to stress.
The national team’s medical staff have declared the midfielder fit to play and have given him the green light to play after a back injury has kept him out of action for the Reds.
The 25-year-old trained with his international team-mates and is set to feature for Brazil in their World Cup qualifier against Ecuador.
Coutinho complained of back pain during the Audi Cup on Aug 1, after the Reds’ clash against Bayern and hasn’t trained with the club since.
He also suffered a virus but he has managed to shake that off in time to represent his country. — The Sun, London