12 May 2017

Deal Close? Balague makes shock Liverpool transfer claim; confirms transfer for 'amazing' €60m star is being 'pushed'

Spanish pundit Guillem Balague has claimed that one of Liverpool's top players is desperate to quit Anfield this summer.

Over the last two years, Brazilian maestro Philippe Coutinho has regularly declared his loyalty to Liverpool, and after recently signing a new £150k-a-week deal, he reiterated:

“I signed this new contract to stay here for a few more years. It gives me great happiness. Jürgen is a winner and every player feels honoured to play at this great club for this great manager".

Barcelona are constantly linked with a move for Coutinho, and the prevailing view is that the Catalan club is driving the proposed deal. However, according to Balague, it's Coutinho who's pushing for a move. Speaking to Sky Sports today, he insisted:

"It [the transfer to Barca] is being pushed by his [Coutinho's] agent, his representatives and by his friends in the squad, like Neymar".

Coutinho obviously speaks with his agent (who is essentially the Brazilian's employee), so it follows that he'll know about the attempts to engineer a move to Barcelona. Clearly, if Coutinho wasn't interested, he'd instruct his agent and 'representatives' to desist.

If this is true, then it appears that Coutinho isn't so loyal to Liverpool after all. Not that I blame him...

The lure of Barcelona is irresistible for most players, and I'm sure it'll be refreshing for Coutinho to play for a team that prioritises possession, creation, and game intelligence over the requirement to run 12km a game.

Plus, competing for the biggest trophies every year is an enticing prospect.

* Coutinho: Hailed as 'amazing' by Joel Matip. €60m-rated


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