Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has suggested that Liverpool could be a week away from bidding farewell to Philippe Coutinho.
It has frankly been an annoying and painful transfer saga that has dragged on since last summer, but the Brazilian magician may well be edging closer to leaving us this month.
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According to Balague, the two clubs are in discussions and Barca are ready to do what is necessary to complete a deal in January and prise Coutinho away from Anfield.
“Discussions between clubs are taking place about the price right now,” he told Sky Sports. “I think contracts are being written. Barcelona will be willing to pay even more as they want this to happen, and want to announce it next week.
“Barcelona will go as far as it takes to bring Coutinho now. Both Coutinho and Barcelona want this sorted now.”
It’s fair to suggest that a January deal doesn’t suit us at all, as with Coutinho in fine form and the team marching on with great results over the past two months since that defeat at Tottenham, his exit could risk seeing our momentum disrupted with a big part of the campaign to come.
Sadly though Reds, it looks as though this transfer is only going one way if we’re to believe Balague’s assessment above, albeit the La Liga expert has previously suggested that a January exit wouldn’t materialise.
With new favourite Mo Salah firing this season along with Firmino and Mane, maybe we can manage for the rest of this season at least if an immediate replacement doesn’t arrive. However, our main focus has to be on keeping this excellent run of form going…