Philippe Coutinho has been linked with a move to Spanish giants Barcelona in recent weeks, but Liverpool may hold all the cards when it comes to a transfer
Coutinho has been in brilliant form for Liverpool this season, scoring 5 goals in 10 games in the Premier League and helping Liverpool to the top of the table for the first time since 2014.
His excellent performances this season have seen him linked with moves to Real Madrid, Paris St. Germain and Barcelona.
Coutinho himself has insisted he is happy at Liverpool, and there is no doubt the Reds will do everything in their power to convince the 24-year-old Brazilian to stay.
And, according to The Times, Liverpool also have another big advantage in any negotiations with interested clubs.
The Times claim that unlike Luis Suarez – who was the subject of a highly ridiculed £40m + £1 bid from Arsenal after it emerged he had a release clause in his contract – Coutinho does not have any buy-out clauses in his contract.
It was also reported at the time that Suarez had a clause that gave him the option of leaving, should a foreign club playing in the Champions League come calling, but Coutinho’s contract is apparently iron-clad and contains no escape clauses whatsoever.
Coutinho’s current deal ends in 2020, so it doesn’t mean that Liverpool are guaranteed to hold on to him should the Spanish giants come calling, but it does mean that they will not have to sell him at a reduced price.
Barcelona are keen on the player, and there have been reports that Neymar and Suarez have already begun the process of trying to convince the Brazilian playmaker to join the Catalan side.
One thing is for sure though, any club that approaches Liverpool about Coutinho now face an uphill battle to sign the 24-year old, if the Times are to be believed.