Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have issued a statement on Philippe Coutinho‘s future at the club, stressing he is not for sale.
The Reds have already knocked back two offers from Barcelona for the 25-year-old, the first worth £72 million and the second around £90 million.
While the Spanish side were expected to return with an improved offer before the end of the transfer window, Liverpool’s approach was never likely to change.
And FSG have taken an emphatic step to clarify their “definitive stance” on the matter on Friday morning, providing a statement on the club’s official website.
“We wish to offer clarity as regards our position on a possible transfer of Philippe Coutinho,” they write.
“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 window closes.”
Coutinho is said to have set his sights on a move to the Nou Camp, but was not expected to push for his departure due to his commitment to the Reds.
The Brazilian signed a new five-year contract with the club in January, making him Liverpool’s highest earner, and crucially this did not include a release clause.
Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly declared that Coutinho is not for sale this summer, but the backing of owners John W. Henry and Tom Werner serves to compound his stance.
The hope will be that this is end of speculation over Coutinho’s future, and FSG can turn their attentions back to securing further signings.
Liverpool have so far brought in three new players this summer in Dominic Solanke, Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson, but have been unsuccessful in pursuit of Virgil van Dijk and Naby Keita.
Van Dijk has handed in a transfer request at Southampton, but the Southern Daily Echo report that no club has made a bid for the centre-back at this stage.
The transfer window closes on August 31, leaving plenty of time to conduct business before the end of the month.
Fan Comments