Liverpool could sell Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona next season, says Le Tissier

Posted Friday, September 15, 2017 by squawka.com

Former Southampton striker Matt Le Tissier says Liverpool could end up allowing Philippe Coutinho to leave for Barcelona next summer, if they receive a sufficiently large fee.

The Brazilian playmaker was at the centre of a transfer storm in the summer, with Barcelona making three massive bids for his services. However, Liverpool held firm and Coutinho will spend the 2017/18 season at Anfield, despite submitting a late transfer request.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Le Tissier said: "I think to give themselves the best chance possible of succeeding in any of the competitions, you want your best players at your football club.”

"He's got a long enough contract behind him that Liverpool were able to go 'do you know what, no, not this summer. We need you in the squad, we want to push forward ourselves as a football club and get better and the only way we can do that is to keep our best players'.”

The 25-year-old signed a five-year contract with Liverpool in January, meaning the Reds were always in the driving seat when Barca came calling.

"The length of contract was the key for me. I think if he would have had two years left, maybe even three years left on his contract, it may have been a little bit of a different situation.”

"If he has a good season this season, they will probably sell Philippe Coutinho for even more next summer than what they turned down.”

Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool haven't been able to call on Coutinho so far this season. The midfielder has been unavailable due to injuries and the midweek appearance against Sevilla was his first competitive club game this season.

Coutinho was an integral part of Klopp's side last season, scoring 13 goals and creating 65 chances from 31 league games. Fans will hope the Brazilian will be as influential this season, particularly with the Champions League to consider as well.

'Take the money for Coutinho and buy a better back-four'
Ex-Liverpool striker Dean Saunders also weighed in on the matter and suggested the Reds should cash in on the Brazilian playmaker and use the funds to bolster the defensive department after conceding twice against the La Liga outfit on their return to the Champions League.

"If Liverpool want to win trophies, if they want to get to that next level, they need to improve their defence,” he told talkSPORT.

"One way around that would be to sell Coutinho next summer for £130 million and buy three new defenders and a defensive midfield player…and maybe a goalkeeper as well.

"Liverpool's front three are already brilliant, so I'd take the money for Coutinho and that's one way you can get the back-four better.

"I wonder if the manager is sitting there this morning thinking, 'is my back-four good enough to go where I want to go with this team?'

"Would Loris Karius get in Manchester United's team? Would Joe Gomez? Would Alberto Moreno? Would Joel Matip or Dejan Lovren or Ragnar Klavan?

"Go through the seven best teams in Europe, none of those players are getting in those teams, so as a manager you sit there and think, 'are they good enough, and if not what can I do about it?' He could change the way they play to protect them a little bit more, or change the personnel.”