- Philippe Coutinho reportedly ‘wants assurances’ over Liverpool exit
- Brazilian playmaker still wants move to Barcelona after summer-long transfer saga
- Seeks summer exit amid speculation of January transfer window swoop
- READ MORE: ‘Liverpool should have let him go’ – Ex-LFC man concedes change in Coutinho stance now
Given his form so far this season, Philippe Coutinho has proven his commitment and professionalism to Liverpool. However, he still reportedly wants to leave for Barcelona.
The 25-year-old has been in great form, scoring nine goals and providing seven assists in 14 appearances in all competitions after struggling early on in the campaign with an injury.
As noted by BBC Sport, Barcelona made three separate bids to acquire his services over the summer, all of which were rejected by Liverpool as they seemingly had no intention of selling one of their most prized assets even with a reported £114m on the table.
However, the fact that Coutinho handed in a transfer request would have been a major blow, and according to The Mirror, that same sentiment remains as the Brazilian ‘wants assurances’ that he’ll be able to secure a move to the Nou Camp at the end of the season.
Naturally, Liverpool won’t want to lose him at all as his influence this year has proven how important he is in Jurgen Klopp’s side as they remain one of the top attacking units in Europe, scoring 32 goals in their last nine games in all competitions, hammering seven past Spartak Moscow in midweek.
Nevertheless, perhaps that arrangement would work for all parties. Coutinho would eventually get the move he desires, while the Mirror rightly point out that Liverpool would be able to put the matter to bed until the end of the season and concentrate on their objectives, while it also gives them the best part of six months to identify a capable replacement.
Given his quality and influential impact on the team, it’s naturally going to be a huge loss for Liverpool if they have to bid farewell to Coutinho at some point, but if the player wants a move to Barcelona, how long can they stand in the way of that? At least in this scenario they can plan for the future and make sure they’re covered before any deal is made.