Philippe Coutinho could leave Liverpool this summer after submitting a transfer request to the club’s hierarchy.
The Reds’ stance on the player has been consistent throughout the transfer window, with the Merseysiders remaining adamant he is not for sale.
Liverpool have yet to officially comment following Coutinho’s email request but have reportedly rejected his plea.
Here, we look back at the key dates this summer in Barcelona’s pursuit of the Reds star – with the Catalans twice being knocked back with big-money bids.
Liverpool rebuffed a £72million bid from Barcelona for the Brazilian, with Kop boss Jurgen Klopp revealing he would sit down with his star player and underline his importance to the team.
Coutinho has featured throughout most of the club’s pre-season campaign and on July 22 scored a sensational strike in the 2-1 friendly win over Leicester.
Barcelona launched a second bid for the 25-year-old, thought to be in the region of £90million – which was immediately rejected by the Anfield club.
Again, Liverpool reiterated that the playmaker would not be going anywhere ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
The club’s Fenway Sports Group owners released a statement via Liverpool’s social media, stating that Coutinho would not be sold this summer.
It read: “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 (transfer) window closes.”
German boss Klopp backed up the club’s owners remarks in his pre-Watford press conference.
“If FSG is saying something like this, that’s the statement. That’s the way it will go, nothing else to say about it,” the 50-year-old said.
He also confirmed Coutinho would not be available for the trip to Watford on Saturday due to a back injury.
Rumours started circling online that the Reds’ coveted No.10 had issued a transfer request.
It was later confirmed via credible sources on social media that the player had submitted an email transfer request, asking to end his four-year stay on Merseyside.
