Thiago Silva Urges Philippe Coutinho to Leave Liverpool for PSG

Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva has admitted he is hopeful his team can do a deal for Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho and that he has spoken to him about his future.

Talking to Telefoot (h/t The Independent), Silva was candid when quizzed on PSG's interest in his Brazil team-mate, suggesting he is hopeful a deal may even be done in the January transfer window.

"I talk a lot with Coutinho," he said. "I hope that at the end of the season or even before, it could be a nice surprise for us. I hope he will think well and that next year he will work with us."

Silva added that he offered similar words of encouragement to fellow Brazil star Neymar, who completed a world-record transfer from Barcelona to the French capital in the summer.

"As with Neymar, I give him a lot of advice," the 33-year-old centre-back said. "But I think the most important thing for [Coutinho] is to make the best decision."

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As The Independent reported, Barcelona made moves to sign Coutinho in the summer after losing Neymar, having three offers rejected for the former Inter Milan man. PSG are another club said to have made it known they are interested in the player.

Per the Premier League's official Twitter account, since joining the Reds in January 2013, Coutinho has been one of the most creative player Liverpool have had:

While the piece suggested Coutinho favours a transfer to the Camp Nou, the chance to move to PSG would be an enticing prospect too.

After all, the French capital club has made some massive acquisitions in an attempt to secure a place at the summit of European football, with Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Dani Alves all arriving in the summer.

There's also a clutch of Brazilian players at the club in Silva, Neymar, Alves, Marquinhos and Lucas Moura. And if Silva were able to help broker a surprise deal for Neymar in the summer, he may do the same for Coutinho.