Just two hours after Liverpool owners FSG issued a statement saying that 'no offers will be considered' for Philippe Coutinho, the player has handed in a transfer request.
Sky Sports News originally reported that the Brazilian wants out of Anfield amid speculation of a move to Barcelona.
BREAKING: @Phil_Coutinho hands @LFC an official transfer request - Sky sources. #SSN pic.twitter.com/Ju1vtSwKLJ
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 11, 2017
Confusion originally reigned on this story however with multiple sources claiming this wasn't true and that the club had not received a request from the player.
#LFC adamant that they haven't received a transfer request from Philippe Coutinho
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) August 11, 2017
Pearce, the Liverpool reporter for the Liverpool Echo later claimed that Coutinho did in fact hand in a transfer request, but not until about an hour after Sky claimed he had already done so.
Coutinho made the transfer request via email around 1pm today. #LFC adamant that it changes nothing and he won't be sold.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) August 11, 2017
In recent weeks it was reported that Liverpool had turned down two offers for the Brazilian. An initial bid of £72 million was made three weeks ago. After that was rejected, Barca returned with a £90 million offer. According to reports earlier this week, Barca officials had arrived in Liverpool to thrash out a deal.
It will certainly be interesting to see how Liverpool deal with the latest twist in the saga.
The club appear adamant that they will not sell the 25 year old, despite this transfer request.
At his press conference today, Jurgen Klopp announced that a back injury will keep him out of tomororw's Premier League opener against Watford, but that nothing has changed on whether or not the midfielder will stay at the club.
If FSG have said something like this, then that's the statement. I've said about it a few times, but maybe it's not been 100% clear. Now you can read it. That's the way it will go, there's nothing else to say about it
