Liverpool wants Philippe Coutinho to continue playing, for one more season, at Anfield. The English football club decided to announce their decision via their web page. They don't want Barcelona's money and they won't let the player leave.
Liverpool has issued a press statement to make their position clear: they will not entertain any offers made for Coutinho. "The club's definitive stance is that no offers for Philippe will be considered and he will remain a member of Liverpool Football Club when the summer window closes," states Fenway Sports Group, the American company that owns the club.
Fenway Sports Group statement on Philippe Coutinho: https://t.co/xf7GaeskPL pic.twitter.com/FANC2BIqWo
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) 11 of agosto of 2017
The player himself wants to swap Liverpool for Barcelona this summer and he seems ready to force the issue for the two clubs to reach an agreement before 31st August when the transfer window closes in Europe. According to Sky Sports, the Brazilian midfielder had formally asked, using the 'transfer request' mechanism of English football, to leave to a different club.
BREAKING: @Phil_Coutinho hands @LFC an official transfer request - Sky sources. #SSN pic.twitter.com/Ju1vtSwKLJ
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) 11 of agosto of 2017
Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool's coach, this Friday announced that Coutinho will not take part in the team's first game of the Premier League next season, against Watford, due to back problems. "He hasn't trained since last Friday", Klopp concluded before raising doubts that the Brazilian will appear for Liverpool in the away leg of their Champions League play-off game against Hoffenheim next week.