Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino has provided the strongest indication yet that Brazilian maestro Philippe Coutinho is on his way to Anfield.
Liverpool Coach Brendan Rodgers confirmed yesterday that talks had taken place with Inter, and the 20-year old is rumoured to be having a medical at Liverpool today ahead of a €10m deal.
Last night, Pochettino finally admitted defeat in his pursuit of the player. He told TalkSport:
"I am not disappointed we couldn't sign him [Coutinho].
"Coutinho is a quality player, and since I arrived I knew there was a small chance we could sign him, but I haven't had much time to consider signings"
If Southampton 'couldn't sign him', then that leaves the Reds with a clear run, which means that there are no further obstacles in the way to the signing taking place. As noted a few days ago, there is still the work permit issue to consider, but if Coutinho is having a medical, then the club must have that all sewn up.
There is, however, som potentially bad news. In an interview with the BBC, Corriere dello Sport journalist Andrea Ramazzotti - who has watched all of Coutinho's 28 games for Inter Milan - sounded a note of caution over the Brazilian:
"Coutinho played very well when he was on loan at Espanyol last season, and started well for Inter this season, but they were only brief spells really. For the rest of the time he just showed flashes of his potential and I fear the way of playing in England, which can be very physical, will not suit him, because he has a slight frame."
That doesn't sound too promising. The likes of Raheem Sterling and Suso have struggled at times this season with the physicality of the Premier League, and they already have an advantage over Coutinho in that they are used to English football.
After splashing out £26m on Joe Allen and Fabio Borini (who haven't really made a massive difference to the team), and Sahin and Assaidi (who haven't worked out), Rodgers needs to start getting his transfers right.
Hopefully, Coutinho will follow Daniel Sturridge's lead and make an immediate impact.
Jaimie Kanwar
REMEMBER: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
Liverpool Coach Brendan Rodgers confirmed yesterday that talks had taken place with Inter, and the 20-year old is rumoured to be having a medical at Liverpool today ahead of a €10m deal.
Last night, Pochettino finally admitted defeat in his pursuit of the player. He told TalkSport:
"I am not disappointed we couldn't sign him [Coutinho].
"Coutinho is a quality player, and since I arrived I knew there was a small chance we could sign him, but I haven't had much time to consider signings"
If Southampton 'couldn't sign him', then that leaves the Reds with a clear run, which means that there are no further obstacles in the way to the signing taking place. As noted a few days ago, there is still the work permit issue to consider, but if Coutinho is having a medical, then the club must have that all sewn up.
There is, however, som potentially bad news. In an interview with the BBC, Corriere dello Sport journalist Andrea Ramazzotti - who has watched all of Coutinho's 28 games for Inter Milan - sounded a note of caution over the Brazilian:
"Coutinho played very well when he was on loan at Espanyol last season, and started well for Inter this season, but they were only brief spells really. For the rest of the time he just showed flashes of his potential and I fear the way of playing in England, which can be very physical, will not suit him, because he has a slight frame."
That doesn't sound too promising. The likes of Raheem Sterling and Suso have struggled at times this season with the physicality of the Premier League, and they already have an advantage over Coutinho in that they are used to English football.
After splashing out £26m on Joe Allen and Fabio Borini (who haven't really made a massive difference to the team), and Sahin and Assaidi (who haven't worked out), Rodgers needs to start getting his transfers right.
Hopefully, Coutinho will follow Daniel Sturridge's lead and make an immediate impact.
Jaimie Kanwar
REMEMBER: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
youv,e hit the nail on the head m8 i dont say anything on here that i would not say to the persons face thats how i am ,have the scars to prove it,unlike the internet warriors who have not even got the balls to show there face
ReplyDeletefoot ball is a game end off sums you up ,a bit of a pastime take it or leave it ,well m8 to some people footballs a bit more than that,the crap on the pitch can realy scr"w your week up,and as for happy pills i would need a f"cking bottle after sundays performance lol ;-)
ReplyDeleteJack Wilshire is not bad. Depends on how much space he can make for himself. I too think its to much of a gamble as we need experienced players judging by the Oldham game. Not even sure where he'll fit into our team. We're just into Feb now, how long will it be before he's even ready for a game?
ReplyDeletehe will have to be fully fit otherwise he will get eaten alive ,i just wonder if he can handle the pysical side of the premier
ReplyDeleteHazard was never going to happen. Chelsea had just won the champions league and can pay him obscene amounts of money that we can't compete with. Eriksen is probably out of our range as well, most likely man utd bound when he eventually leaves Ajax.
ReplyDeleteYour a guy after my own heart m8, when we get beat it puts me on a right downer though it happens that often now i manage to shake it off a bit quicker, my missus still ribs me how a grown man can get so down over a sport but its in your blood or not, iam old enough to have followed us when we ruled not just england but europe too & iam sick of hearing about works in motion, rebuilding, potential & all the other happy, happy shi*e you hear, maybe i am living in the past but imo kenny is a proven winner, won us our first cup in 5 years & i just cant see this guy we have now ever winning fu*k all
ReplyDeletelol to some its just a game to others its much more important than that,i bet your missus has been ribbing you big time this season
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how you can be so immediately dismissive. Can you honestly say you have studied the guy's career?
ReplyDeleteIts almost like you want him to fail. What's wrong with you? Give him a chance for godness sake.
Twenty years there, and what do we do after Rafa? Hope we will stick with this one and try to make Liverpool way his own, and his innovations visible and not questioned. He has shown he can do it, and now with 6 players for 50 mill, 20 epl games and injuries almost out of the way- he will(should) start delivering end product. His stubbornness might be the problem, but I think he has learned to chose his battles, so he can make it his advantage- like all the great managers...
ReplyDelete