The Coutinho Saga - Are both Liverpool and Barcelona trying too hard to prove a point?

In the last game of the 2016/2017 Premier League season, an inspired performance by the amply named 'little magician' saw Liverpool secure a place in the top four, and Coutinho's status as a fan favourite was solidified even further. A very impressive season, alongside signing a new 5 year deal to make the Brazilian the highest paid player in the clubs history, Liverpool's number 10 appeared at home at Anfield and set for a long and fruitful future at the club, under the leadership of manager Jurgen Klopp. Then came the summer, and the yearly rumour mill started up again. Instantly 'Coutinho to Barcelona' was published in every news outlet across England and Spain. Liverpool, and particularly Jurgen Klopp were adamant, Coutinho was not for sale at any price. The deal appeared to be dead in the water, and with no official bid made, it looked as if Philipe would be playing his football at Anfield for another year. And then... well let's start from the beginning.

£200 million. That is how much Barcelona received for the sale of Neymar to PSG. Now due to the extraordinary details of the transfer, unlike most big money moves in football, the full amount was paid instantly, not in instalments which seems to be the trend right now. And just like that, Neymar was off. What were the details of the transfer? I'm glad you asked! Due to Spanish transfer laws, a club can not pay out a buyout clause, only the player himself can. So the Qatari owners of PSG paid Neymar a reported £400 million, half of it was to be used to pay his way out of his contract with the Catalan club, the other half to work as a representative during the 2022 World Cup. Neymar then signed a deal with PSG. So effectively Qatar bought Neymar, not PSG. At no point did the £200 million directly go through the French club, meaning they theoretically can't be touched by financial fair play rules. It's both genius and incredibly dodgy but it's Qatar? What more did you really expect? Anyway back to Coutinho. So all of a sudden, Barcelona had a massive Neymar sized hole in their side, and an extra £200 million to play with. Now Barcelona have always been a rich club, but have shied away from spending the real big bucks, the kind of money the likes of their huge rivals Real Madrid spend on their 'galacticos'. The philosophy has always been to grow players from within, to find a replacement in their youth set ups. But this was different. This wasn't the typical, an older player fading out as a young up and comer pushes through the ranks. This was a Balon D'or nominated, world beater, the proclaimed future of the club being taken, and they simply did not and do not have the time for a youngster to grow up to Neymar's level, so they need a replacement now! SO what did they do? Well they needed a replacement. Typically someone good on the ball. Capable of playing wide left but also able to drift inside. Someone the Catalan fans would love, and someone who appeared quiet enough to play under Messi. Also a Brazilian would be a big bonus. Who had Barcelona already contacted this summer? Who had they been interested in for years? I don't know why I'm asking all of these questions, it's been obvious since I wrote the title... It's Coutinho. Now the signing of the Brazilian midfielder had initially been seen as a way to keep Neymar around, with him and Philipe being childhood friends. But since that was first theorised Countiho has grown into a world star, a simply incredible player and a perfect fit for Barca.

Barcelona had to show their intentions, so an official bid was made. £90 million! A bid that, a month earlier, would have been a world record amount. Rejected. Liverpool's owners FSG held their stance, Coutinho was not for sale. At this point we had heard nothing from the player himself. Barcelona come in with a second offer, reported to be around £100 million plus add ons. Rejected! Still no word from Coutinho, it looked as if Liverpool were being true to their word. But then came one of the most confusing days of the summer for Liverpool fans.

10th August 2017 -

10am - FSG gave out an emphatic statement, saying that, under no circumstance will any offer for Coutinho be considered. Shutting the door on ANY possibility of the number 10 signing for Barcelona.

11am - Jurgen Klopp repeats FSG's comment in a press conference. Stating that FSG had been 100% on their stance with the Coutinho rumours.

1:30pm - Coutinho's family hit out at FSG and Klopp. Criticising the club for the way they handle their big players and their wishes to leave, quoting Luis Suarez. This criticism was meant to have came straight from Coutinho's mouth.

2:30pm - Reports leaked to the media that Coutinho had 'emailed' in a transfer request. Almost instantly afterwards more reported suggested that FSG had rejected the request.

3pm - Liverpool Football Club release a statement that they have not received a request of any sort from Coutinho or his party.

5pm - Liverpool confirm they have received a transfer request from Philipe Coutinho, and officially refuse it. Once again stating that he will not be going anywhere.

With the news of a transfer request being handed in, Barcelona continued their pursuit of Coutinho, which brings us to Friday 18th August, Barcelona approach Liverpool with an offer in the sum of £114 million. Which, of course, was rejected immediately. But this is where it gets strange. Barcelona stated that Liverpool had until 8pm on Sunday 20th August to reconsider and accept the offer, or they would end their pursuit of Coutinho. Now Barcelona know they're offering an amount way over the odds for Coutinho, and you'd imagine in any other summer,  Liverpool would accept. But Liverpool had been and continue to be very stern with their stance, so the ultimatum just indicates that Liverpool have won, when in reality. No one really has won.

Okay so that brings us to today, the 8pm deadline has passed, so Barcelona have reportedly ended their interest in the Brazilian. It's been two weeks since the deal for Neymar to leave was drawn out, and we have just 11 days left in this summer's transfer window, and Barcelona have just wasted 2 weeks chasing a player they were told months ago would not be joining them. Why? Pride. That's why. Barcelona are one of the biggest clubs in the world, but right now, they don't look so good in the eyes of the world. They have, as I previously mentioned, just lost one of their big hitters in Neymar. Also they were humbled, twice in the space of four days, by Real Madrid in the Spanish super cup, as summers go it's been a very poor one! That could be why the Coutinho deal is so big to them, because a genuine star, with bags of potential, coming to Barcelona could help to mask the summer that has been nothing other then a failure so far. Simply put, Barcelona aren't used to being told no. Even though Coutinho has handed in a transfer request, and his representatives have spoken of his desire to play for Barca, the deal is no further along. The idea of 'player power' that has been growing for years usually means that if a player wants a move, he gets that move. But as we've seen this summer with Keita, Van Dijk, (More on them later) and Diego Costa, potentially the power is swinging back in the clubs favour, and contracts are starting to mean something again! Now, as a Liverpool fan, I know just how good Coutinho is, he is world class, but £114 million? No amount of 30 year screamers will make Philipe worth that kind of money! So why are Barcelona offering it? Because their pride won't let them come out. They're being stubborn, almost like a child who loses his toy, they'll kick us a fuss until they get what they want. After being seen to be weak all summer, a monumental deal would be enough to show Barcelona still are a world power house. Barcelona could have gone after Eden Hazard, you'd imagine £80/£90 million would be enough for bring the Belgian to Spain? Even Garath Bale from Real. Yes he'd cost silly money but Madrid are looking to sell the Welshman to raise funds and... Barcelona are offering silly money for Coutinho. But now the deadline has passed they'll probably move on to another target right? Well actually reports are suggesting Barcelona are lining up a 4th bid... with 11 days left in the transfer window, for a player they've been told, over and over and over, will not be joining them for any amount of money. It appears that, in the eyes of anyone, football fan are not, the Catalan giants are trying to prove they're just that, giants. In a year where their main rivals have towered above them, Barcelona are throwing their weight around to prove they're still number one, and that seems to result in offering insane amounts of money for Coutinho. SO why have Liverpool said no? Well...

Pride. Yes I'm saying that both of the sides are coming out as losers because of their pride. Let's go back a couple of months, to when Liverpool looked set to bring in both Keita and Virgil Van Dijk. Now the accusations posed by Southampton towards Liverpool are mainly what stopped the deal for Virgil to join Liverpool, afterwards the Saints have been very clear, holding strong 'We will not sell to Liverpool.' And then we have Keita. Since day one, RB Leipzig said their big midfielder was not for sale. But Liverpool kept going in. £40 million bid, £50 million bid, £60 million bid, all categorically rejected. Leipzig, much like Southampton, stood by their word and would not budge. What Leipzig and Southampton have done to Liverpool is exactly what Liverpool have done to Barcelona, despite all along, the bidding club looked the favourite because of the numbers being thrown around, the selling club saw no need and had no desire to sell. You'd imagine the way clubs have dealt with Liverpool this summer has effected the way they have dealt with Barcelona. Taking the power away from the players and giving it back to the club. So good for Liverpool right? Staying strong and keeping hold of their best player right? The same player who, hasn't been in the squad for the first three games of the season due to an 'injury', an 'injury' barely mentioned by anyone surrounded by Liverpool as it appears simply Coutinho has no desire to play for the club while this all goes on. Either that or Klopp doesn't want to play the want away Brazilian. So the German currently has a £114 million midfielder, sat at home, not playing, not training, all to prove a point? Let's just look at that number again... £114 million! That is a massively over inflated price for Coutinho, if Barca had came in with that offer BEFORE the problems with Keita and Virgil, Liverpool you'd imagine would have snapped Barca's hand off to accept it. In a summer where FSG seem reluctant to spend the money promised, bar the primary targets of Salah, Keita and Van Dijk no one of note has even been considered, and a huge injection of cash could lead to Liverpool reinvesting in their incredibly leaky defence and light weight midfield. Lets face it, with or without Coutinho, Livepool will score goals. Going forward they have the numbers, they have the depth, it's everywhere else where the problem lays. With the potential money for Coutinho, Klopp could have bought in 3 or 4 players to go straight into the bottom two thirds of the side, and to give much needed depth to the squad. An incredibly thin squad being asked to play in four competitions this season. In yesterday's victory against Palace, Klopp named a weakened side to 'rest' certain players ahead of the Champions League qualifier in the coming week. There is NOTHING wrong with that... four months into the season. But the SECOND league game of the season! If that doesn't show how paper thin Liverpool's squad is nothing will. From my point of view, I can see more positives from Coutinho leaving then i can from him staying, well I'd have said that if this had taken place two months ago. But now, with the season started and only 11 days left until the transfer window slams shut, Jurgen Klopp could find himself in the same position as Barcelona if he does sell. Trying to replace your best player with very little time to go. And in a market like this one, where as £114 million would have bought  3 or 4 guaranteed world beaters two months ago, now that isn't a guarantee. Clubs simply have enough money now that they have no need to sell, and if they are to sell their star players, they ask for incredibly high sums. (See almost every Everton signing so far.) So what are we left with? I'd say, right now, Liverpool simply can't sell Coutinho, one because there is no time to replace him, and two because they'd look incredibly weak after holding such a strong stance all summer.

As I've mentioned already there is 11 days left in the transfer window, and Barcelona are still without a replacement for Neymar and are looking the weakest they've looked in years. With a thin squad, and a new manager with an incredible lack for experience who looks way out of his depth. Not to mention ageing top stars and a lack of youngsters to integrate into the team, as well as Real Madrid looking stronger by the day, leaving the Catalonian's in the dust. Then we have Liverpool, who have held onto their star so far, but he is either refusing to play or the manager has no desire to play him. Their squad simply isn't big enough to fight on all fronts this season and the problems from last time out haven't been addressed so far in the window due to lack of investment. When, I say again, they have a £114 million midfielder who hasn't played a single minute of football during the first three games of the season.

Both Barcelona and Liverpool are five time European champions. Both sides are the second most successful side in their domestic leagues history, and both sides have had very busy transfer windows without getting much work done at all. Both the English and the Spanish side have done everything they can to look strong this summer, to look like they won't back down, and somehow, are both worse off then they were before this whole ordeal began. So who has came out the worse?

Well if Liverpool, get Coutinho to play for them again, and he reaches the heights of last season. As well as finally investing in their defence and bring in some depth before the end of the window, I'm sure fans will see this summer as a positive.

And if Barca do now show the intelligence to stop with their pursuit of Coutinho, and instead complete a move for the likes of Hazard, or much more likely the Frenchman Dembele from Dortmund, they will have saved face. If new manager Ernesto Valverde can take the world record sum his club received for Neymar, and spend it on much needed reinforcements for their squad, then Barca could save their season before it really gets bad!

Only time will tell if either of these sides have made a good decision with their actions this summer, but you can't deny it has made for very good viewing! And hopefully good reading.