LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 31, 2017: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia in action against Chelsea during the FA Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Coutinho “happy” to be linked with Barcelona

Philippe Coutinho provided a dominant midfield display to inspire Liverpool’s 4-0 win at West Ham on Sunday, as the Brazilian continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona.

Coutinho played in a deeper midfield role, a ‘No.8’ – which is the exact role he has been linked with taking if he should move to the Nou Camp to replace Andres Iniesta.

Speaking before Sunday’s game, Coutinho is quoted telling ESPN Brasil he is happy that “a great club has an interest.”

“Barcelona is one of the best teams in the world, so far, nothing has come to me, because if anything comes, it comes to my manager, what I have to do is focus on the pitch,” Coutinho said.

“I have a contract with Liverpool, there are two games, there are a lot of chances for us to be in the Champions League next year.

“What I have to do is focus on football and those things are resolved by the business people.

“I’m happy to know that a great club has an interest, it’s cool, for the recognition of their work, what I have to do is keep working hard.

“Liverpool is a great club and we have to put Liverpool back in the Champions League.”

Coutinho signed a new five-year deal back in January and Jurgen Klopp has insisted that the owners will do everything they can to keep their star player this summer.

In all honesty, there’s not much in these quotes – any footballer would be happy to be linked with a move to Barcelona, it shows they must be doing something right.

There is, though, a growing sense of inevitability about Coutinho eventually moving to Barca – just hopefully that’s not this summer.

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