Barcelona Transfer News: Philippe Coutinho Bid Eyed Amid Liverpool Exit Rumours

Barcelona will move for Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho in January, with the European champions reportedly looking to bolster what’s become a creaking squad in recent weeks.

According to Sport (h/t Liam Prenderville of the Daily Mirror), the Blaugrana will test Liverpool’s resolve to keep Coutinho with a bid of €30 million (£22.25 million) in the midseason window. Barcelona will be able to sign players in January for the first time since the summer of 2014, with sanctions on incoming players to be lifted.

It’s clear Coutinho would be welcomed at Barcelona, too. Brazil team-mate and current Blaugrana starlet Neymar revealed he’d love to see his compatriot at the Camp Nou, but the Reds man has reacted, insisting he is “totally focused” on helping Liverpool to a strong season, per Steve Millar of the Daily Star.

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The start to the 2015-16 season has been a difficult one for Coutinho and Liverpool. Some inconsistent showings prompted the club’s owners to sack Brendan Rodgers from his post. After developing so well under Rodgers' tutelage, it’s going to be intriguing to see what the next manager has in store for the playmaker.

Bleacher Report’s Karl Matchett just wants to see Coutinho, who has been below his usual high standards this season, enjoying his football again:

Indeed, at his very best, Coutinho makes this Liverpool team operate with a real vibrancy. The Brazilian plays the game with an enamouring vim, gliding across the field, finding pockets of space and meticulously probing at the opposing back four. 

So it’s no surprise to hear Barcelona are interested in the midfielder. Coutinho is one of the few players in world football who could potentially fill the void left by Andres Iniesta when he finishes his playing days, but he’s also capable of playing in a variety of other roles on the field. 

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However, according to Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, there’s yet to be any contact between the two clubs in terms of a potential deal:

Anyway, it seems very unlikely that a transfer will go through based on the aforementioned criteria. Coutinho is arguably Liverpool’s most important player after all, and he is one of the most talented young playmakers in the world. So if Barcelona were going to feasibly bring him in during the January window, they’d most likely have to double the aforementioned amount.

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Liverpool won’t be selling in January, though. Coutinho penned a new deal with the club earlier this year, and any new manager coming in to replace Rodgers will surely be given reassurances about keeping key personnel. The Brazilian definitely falls into that category, and if the Reds are to finish in the top four this season, it’s imperative he’s around in 2016.