This sounds to us very much like one of those transfer rumours which has been plucked purely from thin air – but it’s just about interesting enough that we’ll cover it anyway – mainly because it doesn’t involved Naby Keita or Virgil van Dijk…
Spanish outlet Don Balon has claimed that Lionel Messi has told Barcelona that signing Tottenham’s Dele Alli would be more beneficial than Coutinho, for who they’ve already had a £72m bid rejected out of hand.
The report, translated by the Star, suggests that while Neymar (also linked to PSG) is desperate for Coutinho to join him at Barca, Messi prefers Spurs’ wonderful young talent.
Alli scored 18 Premier League goals last season, five more than Coutinho, and is four years our playmaker’s junior, as well.
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He was very close to signing for Liverpool a few years back, but we felt the £5m fee was extortionate – something we’ll live to regret for the rest of Alli’s career.
In terms of the report though, we just don’t buy it. Messi would surely prefer a South American to join him at the Nou Camp and would not actively reject the chance of playing alongside someone as good as Coutinho.
Not that our no.10 is going anywhere, of course… Liverpool will not accept any offer and there’s literally zero chance of him moving in this transfer window.
Moving on!