Reds reject transfer request by Coutinho

Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho has submitted a transfer request that has been rejected by the club.

The Brazil playmaker has been targeted by Barcelona, whose bid of around £90 million was rebuffed by Liverpool on Wednesday.

It is understood Coutinho – who misses today’s Premier League clash with Watford because of a back problem – declared his desire to leave the Merseyside club yesterday by submitting a transfer request via email. The request was turned down.

Barcamade their offer on Wednesday having already had a £72m bid for Coutinho turned down in July.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has gone on record a number of times emphasising he is not for sale, and club owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) backed that up yesterday by saying in a statement: “The club’s definitive stance is that no offers for Philippe will be considered and he will remain a member of Liverpool Football Club when the summer [transfer] window closes.’’

Sky Sports News received a statement said to be from a member of Coutinho’s family. The statement said: “Philippe has tried very hard to find an amicable solution to this situation but to no avail. He has tremendous love for the club and its fans but, like Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez have pointed out in the past, Liverpool does not let its players leave on amicable terms.”

Coutinho is a doubt for Tuesday’s Champions League qualifying play-off first leg against Hoffenheim in Germany.