Liverpool Transfer News: Philippe Coutinho Bid Rejected, Ruben Neves Rumours

The race to keep hold of Philippe Coutinho has started for Liverpool following reports they've rejected Paris Saint-Germain's opening bid for the Brazilian. Elsewhere, the Reds are ready to step up interest in FC Porto starlet Ruben Neves.

According to Mark Brus for Metro.co.uk, Liverpool shot down PSG's £23 million offer for Coutinho, who is also thought to be attracting interest from Liga titans Barcelona, per Joshua Byers of Marca.

OLI SCARFF/Getty Images

Manager Jurgen Klopp will be keen to keep hold of Coutinho if he can, but after seeing Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling leave in the last two summers, Liverpool face a fight to retain his loyalties.

Broadcaster Nik Postinger believes the playmaker, who is on duty with Brazil at the 2016 Copa America Centenario, is an underrated talent among some of his critics:

Coutinho scored 12 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions for the Merseysiders last season and has very much taken up his mantle as one of the team's star men.

What's more, Brazil defender Dani Alves recently spoke to Yahoo Esportes and encouraged his compatriot to move on to bigger and better things (h/t Sport Witness): "Football is to live the moment. Liverpool have history, but you must consider to play in the best teams of the Champions League. He has the quality to play for Barcelona."

Alves may judge his countryman to have the necessary talent to represent Barcelona, the club he himself will leave this summer, but it appears to be French giants PSG who are taking the initiative in sealing Coutinho's services.

Gualter Fatia/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Portuguese daily Record reported Neves is a primary target for Klopp, and the Reds know where they stand with the player thanks to his £31 million release clause (h/t the Mirror's Aaron Flanagan).

The Porto central midfielder has long been tipped as one of Portugal's brightest prospects and started in 28 of his 43 appearances for the Dragons during the 2015-16 campaign.

Those figures represent a step up in his first-team involvement from the previous season, and Metro's Primeira Liga expert Jan Hagen touched on the 19-year-old having something of a winning influence on his side:

Liverpool may not be prepared to fork out the full value of Neves' release clause just yet, but after running to a distant third-place finish in the Primeira Liga last term, some at Porto may be considering their futures.

Klopp has shown himself to be a manager who is keen on nurturing young talent, and Neves could go a long way in providing a deep-lying presence in midfield with major potential to develop.