Over the summer, Liverpool’s 24-year-old midfielder Philippe Coutinho was repeatedly linked with a move to PSG. It never amounted to anything, and if Liverpool can force their way back into the Champions League this season it’s difficult to imagine the player being exceptionally motivated to push for a move to France.
More worrying for many fans were claims in the autumn that Real Madrid had begun to think of Coutinho, who has recently begun to gain buzz as one of the best players in the Premier League, as a potential target. However, according to Spanish outlet Sport today, Coutinho wouldn’t seek a move to the Castilian giants.
According to Sport, the club Coutinho would consider a move for, should they look a realistic possibility, are La Liga rivals Barcelona, whose squad includes friend and national team teammate Neymar as well as former club teammate Luis Suarez. Fortunately for Liverpool, Sport don’t think Barcelona are interested right now.
The Catalans are said to consider themselves well stocked with attacking talent and to not see Coutinho as a clear enough upgrade at any position to make chasing him a worthwhile endeavour. And if that holds, it likely means Liverpool won’t have to worry about Coutinho for at least one more season following 2016-17.
Meanwhile, reports in England continue to suggest a new deal for Coutinho is in the works and has been for at least a month now, as the club look to both reward Coutinho for his good form and lock him down just that little bit more tightly.