Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho is in the news again after the Brazilian was linked with a move to Barcelona. Neymar, who plays for the La Liga giants, recently spoke out about the former Inter Milan man and stated that Coutinho is the Premier League player he wants at the Nou Camp.
As quoted by the Daily Mail, the Barcelona forward said:
“A Premier League player that I would like to have in Barcelona is Coutinho.
“I believe Philippe Coutinho is a player that would totally fit in Barcelona.”
The pair have been Brazilian teammates for the national side and are great friends off the pitch as well and this isn’t the first time Coutinho has been rumoured to be on the wish list of Barcelona.
That interest forced the Reds into action when they tied the star attacker down with a new contract.
That deal extended Coutinho’s stay at Liverpool for another five and a half years and also made him the best-paid player at the club. However, his form has tailed off in the second half of the season. Coutinho did pick up a nasty injury in November while playing against Sunderland and his return hasn’t been up to the mark.
The Brazilian still lacks sharpness in the final third and Jurgen Klopp has consistently substituted him around the 70th minute mark.
Coutinho has scored six Premier League goals and assisted five more but his only goal in 2017 was against Leicester City in a 3-1 loss. His lack of form since his return is one reason why the Reds have struggled for wins and these quotes from Neymar will add more fuel to the fire that Coutinho is leaving the side in the summer.
Klopp has to ensure that he does not lose a player of Coutinho’s calibre if he is to make Liverpool the force they once were in English football. The Merseyside club are currently fourth in the standings and Champions League football has to be achieved for next season if the best players are to remain at the club.
That goal would be a certainty had Coutinho found his form prior to his injury. Klopp has to ensure the Brazilian is back to his best and Liverpool fans will be expecting the German to get Coutinho going again in the remaining games of the season.
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