Liverpool Transfer News: Philippe Coutinho Reportedly Open to Barcelona Move

Jurgen Klopp is expected to become the new manager of Liverpool after Brendan Rodgers was sacked on Sunday, per Andy Hunter of the Guardian. However, according to reports, he may face a difficult task convincing star midfielder Philippe Coutinho to stay at the club, with the Brazilian apparently keen on a move to Barcelona.

According to SPORT (h/t Uche Amako of the Daily Express), Coutinho would be “very happy to sign” for the Blaugrana. SPORT had previously claimed that Barcelona were set to test Liverpool’s resolve to keep the midfielder with a bid of €30 million, per Liam Prenderville of the Daily Mirror.

Those reports have been substantiated by Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, who suggested that there is growing momentum behind Barcelona’s interest in the midfielder:

Balague also claimed Klopp needs to convince the former Internazionale man to focus on Liverpool and forget about interest from the La Liga giants:

With excellent technique, remarkable vision and silky dribbling, Coutinho has all the talents to be a major hit at the Camp Nou. It’s no surprise reports have emerged suggesting Barcelona are keen on the midfielder and for a young man like Coutinho, who surely has hopes of going to the very top of the game, it’d be a tantalising proposition to don the iconic Blaugrana jersey.

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As we can see here courtesy of Bleacher Report UK, the Catalan press have gone big on the story that Coutinho is keen to leave the Reds:

Neymar has also previously admitted he would like to see his compatriot join him in the Barcelona side, although Coutinho himself has insisted he is focused on Liverpool. But should Klopp take over, it’d be intriguing to see what kind of role the playmaker would have in what would be a high-octane system.

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Coutinho is a player who excelled in that type of setup when Liverpool came so close to winning the title in 2013-14, operating as an orthodox midfielder in Rodgers’ diamond formation, marrying ingenuity and industry superbly.

Indeed, Liverpool FC 360 think that under Klopp, Coutinho and a host of other young players in this Reds squad would take their game on to new heights:

Unfortunately for Liverpool supporters, the club has set a worrying precedent for selling their star players in recent seasons, with Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling both leaving the club for big money over the last two summers. Former club captain Steven Gerrard has previously admitted he was concerned Coutinho may be the next superstar to make way.

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After all, he’s such a vital player for Liverpool. As Tony Scott of the Liverpool Echo noted during the Merseyside derby against Everton, the Reds look a little devoid of spark when Coutinho is nullified:

It was Rodgers who brought Coutinho to Liverpool and helped him blossom into a tremendous player. So it’d be no surprise if the midfielder did fancy a move to the La Liga giants.

Liverpool will surely give Klopp reassurances that Coutinho and other key players won’t have to be sold, though. In addition, the fee of €30 million is a meagre amount for a midfielder who recently signed a new deal with the Reds and possesses the kind of talent to be Barcelona’s eventual heir to Andres Iniesta.