da bet nacional： According to reports in The Times, Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho believes he has played his last game for the club as he looks to secure a move away, but Barcelona will have to offer around £133m to sign him in January.
What’s the word, then?
da dobrowin： Well, the Brazil international was left out of the squad as the Reds beat Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor on Monday because of a thigh injury, but it only fuelled reports that he could leave Anfield this month.
Coutinho also missed all of the club’s matches in August because of a back problem, which The Times says coincided with three rejected bids from Barcelona.
The report adds that Coutinho has been buoyed by the fact that the Merseyside outfit have changed their stance on saying that he was not for sale at any price during the summer, to now being willing to sell for £133m.
How has Coutinho done this season?
Despite missing the opening weeks of the campaign, the 25-year-old has been in impressive form on his return.
The attacking midfielder has scored 12 goals and provided a further nine assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for the Reds, with seven of each of those coming in 14 Premier League outings.
According to WhoScored.com, Coutinho has made 53 key passes in 19 games in the English top flight and in Europe, while he has successfully completed 56 of the 83 dribbles he has attempted.
Are Barcelona likely to offer £133m?
It’s difficult to say.
Considering The Times say that the Catalan outfit offered £118m during the summer it certainly seems as though it’s a possibility, especially with Andres Iniesta often playing as a forward this season in the absence of the injured Ousmane Dembele.
The 33-year-old is certainly getting no younger though, and Barca may see Coutinho as his long-term replacement and want to get him to the Camp Nou as soon as possible.
What should Liverpool do?
If it is true that Coutinho doesn’t want to play for the club for the second time this season, then the Reds are right to be open to offers for the Brazilian.
However, they must stick to their guns like Southampton did for Virgil van Dijk, and they are entitled to do that in the current market.