It seems Barcelona would have to shop elsewhere for Neymar’s replacement as Liverpool have turned down their £90m (N45bn) for playmaker Philippe Coutinho.
Barcelona’s second bid for the 25-year-old Brazilian was immediately rejected. It comprised an initial £76.8m plus £13.5m in add-ons.
The Reds have always insisted that Coutinho, who joined from Inter Milan in 2013 for £8.5m, is not for sale. Manager Jurgen Klopp had said they were not a “selling club’’ when Barca’s previous £72m offer was rejected in July, and that Liverpool had considered the matter closed
Coutinho, who had scored 14 goals last season despite being six weeks out with an ankle injury, had signed a new deal with Liverpool in January.
And there is no release clause in the new contract.
Barca recently sold Brazil Neymar to Paris St-Germain for a world record transfer of £200m and are in dire need of a replacement.
cpcnews.org 