Philippe Coutinho is having the best season of his career and even an injury has not been able to slow him down in terms of numbers. The 24-year-old Brazilian has been great for the Reds and it seems to be time for Liverpool to reward the attacker with an improved contract.
The Daily Star reports that the former Inter Milan player is in line for a record £150,000-a-week contract, which would put him on the same level as the other top earners at the club.
The club are doing this to ward off interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona and the report also claims that Manchester City are looking to sign Coutinho up as well.
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City would have to usurp the £49 million they paid to sign Raheem Sterling with a fee of close to £90 million required to bring Coutinho over. Liverpool will do their best to ensure the Reds don’t lose another star to one of their rivals for a top-four spot at least.
Coutinho is currently injured after picking up a knock against Sunderland in a 2-0 win but the Brazilian is expected to be back in the team for the New Year’s Day clash against Manchester City. The 24-year-old had joined Liverpool in 2013 for a paltry fee of £8.5 million from Inter Milan but Coutinho has turned out to be one of the best players in the Premier League this season.
The Brazilian has formed a great attacking partnership with the likes of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana. The Reds have struggled to close out games since the absence of the mercurial attacker but they will be looking forward to a greater impact when Coutinho returns from injury.
The Reds will be thankful for the impact he has had on the side so far thanks to his five goals and five assists in the Premier League. Liverpool fans will be hopeful of a similar run till the end of the season. The Merseyside club is looking to finish in the top four at least and would need to be at their best if they are to catch high-flying Chelsea.
For Liverpool to close the gap on the Blues, they have to play with the same attacking instinct they have displayed this season. And Coutinho is a vital cog for the Reds as they look to return to the UEFA Champions League next season.
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