Latest from Matth Balague, Liverpool have the edge over Barcelona in Philippe Coutinho saga, says Guillem Balague Last Updated: 10/08/17 6:57pm Guillem Balague thinks Liverpool hold all the cards over Philippe Coutinho's future due to Barcelona being unprepared for Neymar's departure. "Barcelona are on the back foot in the transfer market. Their pursuit of Phillippe Coutinho shows it. What we are seeing is a consequence of them not being ready for the sale of Neymar. They thought that FFP [Financial Fair Play] would stop Paris Saint-Germain paying his buy-out clause, but Barca had no idea that the negotiations between Neymar and PSG were so advanced. Neymar had told both players and staff at the club that he was staying, as well as the opposite. When the deal was complete and Barcelona received the cheque, they realised they were caught late on preparing for his departure. Coutinho wouldn't have been a target for Barcelona if Neymar had stayed. Coutinho's people have told Barcelona for months he's happy to move, but Barcelona did not consider him a priority - they felt that, if the Brazilian had stayed, they needed more a centre midfielder and a winger. In any case they did not have the finances necessary to both update the side and bring a player like him. Now Coutinho could fill the gap left by Neymar, not only in terms of his performance on the pitch (he is more a forward than a midfielder) but also his profile off it. The club feels the fans would fall in love with him. The priority for Ernesto Valverde is a midfielder in the mold of Marco Verratti, or a winger Ousmane Dembele. Barcelona contacted Monaco about Kylian Mbappe but far too late, Roberto Soriano of Villarreal and few others have also been mentioned as targets - but they need one superstar. A player that can make a difference. They believe Dembele is the more likely deal - but Borussia have rejected their first offer and they are going to have to spend a lot of money to get him." Nah, Barca are on the back foot because LFC have told them to **** off Paella face.
So basically Barca just don't think Coutinho is worth it and have moved on. No further need of an expensive friend so they are now trying to get a replacement for a player they've lost
If you say so, but baring in mind the club kb'd a 2nd offer of 90m and reiterated the player's not for sale it makes sense they'd look elsewhere for an alternative.
I have said all along he was only an expensive friend, Barca have just played a game with you because they were never going to pay the kind of price you wanted. You are now left with a player thinking "what if" and they have moved to serious business. Believe me, if it had meant Neymar staying they would have paid a lot more than they offered.
Pure fantasy on your part Diego, if LFC would have accepted the bid you seriously think they'd of said "nah we were only pretending we wanted him"
I have said consistently that he was only a present for Neymar, they have now just sewn the seeds for next season when they may be looking for a replacement for Iniesta to train up. Coutinho will now be thinking about next year and they will get him at the price they are willing to pay
Oh, so you're backtracking now?, you just said they'll be back in for him next season. Make your mind up Diego.
Where's the backtrack? They will be back for Coutinho next season (after putting the seed in his head now) so they can train him up as a replacement for Iniesta. I have said this many times, if they could have kept hold of Neymar they would have paid the asking price for Coutinho to keep him happy this year and also gain time to train Coutinho as Iniesta's replacement. As it is, Neymar has gone so they no longer feel the need to pay friendship prices at the moment but have set the idea in Coutinhos head to fester for a year so they can make their play when they want him
If they spend the Neymar money before this window closes where will they get the Couthinho money next summer?
