This better be good news for the Liverpool fans. After facing the heat all through the summer over Philippe Coutinho’s links to Barcelona, it is now being reported that the Catalans are looking to move on and sign Jean Michael Seri of Nice instead.
As reported by The Daily Mail, Barcelona are all set to trigger the release clause of the midfielder that is set at £36 million (€40 million). Reports state that the Nou Camp officials want the Ivorian at the club as early as next week.
The Spanish giants are still reeling under the effect of Neymar’s world record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain and are in the market for reinforcements. There is a cloud of doubt over the long-term future of club legend Andres Iniesta too which makes their requirement immediate.
Their coffers are flush with money from Neymar’s sale and they have circled Anfield with three bids for Coutinho which were immediately rejected by the Reds. As reiterated by manager Jurgen Klopp and the Chiefs, there is no prospect of parting ways with their best playmaker.
There is a catch to these links though as the Barca officials view Seri’s transfer as not an alternative to Coutinho but as a separate augmentation to their squad. Seri was a standout player in Ligue 1 last season and was pivotal to his club’s charge that eventually helped them finish in the Champions League qualification places.
Will this end Barcelona’s chase of Coutinho? Apparently, a fresh bid in the region of £118 million was presented to Liverpool but the Reds’ hierarchy refused it outright – just like they did with the first two bids.
The Catalans are already frustrated with the resistance of the Reds and although they see Seri as a complementary player for Coutinho, there is a belief within the Catalan camp that signing the Brazilian is becoming tougher by the day.
For me as a fan, the pursuit of Seri may not mean the abandonment of Coutinho’s chase but I see this as a near-close understanding by the Catalans that the Brazilian may stay at Anfield. I just hope that common sense prevails and the clubs take a decision quickly on where Coutinho’s future lies. Because, at the moment, the chaos isn’t helping anyone.
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