08 Aug 2017 17:49:06
ESPN claim Liverpool have agreed a deal in principle with Barcelona for Coutinho, worth up to around 100m pounds. Some claim it is nonsense. What do you think eds?

{Ed001's Note - nothing has been agreed......yet.}

1.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 18:27:28
I don't think anything will be agreed at all.

2.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 18:30:49
It was £81.6m that was in the article, with 'bonuses' (whatever they mean by that? ) that could bring it up to £108.8m. Probably best to not think about it, though I would hope we hold out for more.

3.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 18:32:11
Hi Ed001 first time poster, I was wondering what implications this may have on Klopp? He has incessantly told the press that Couts was going nowhere, this feels like the board have gone against his wishes by negotiating a deal with Barcelona. Or is it all just a ploy to make us believe he has put up a fight? Thanks again!

{Ed001's Note - like I keep saying, the club and Klopp will only sell him if Couts makes it clear he wants to go. In which case, Klopp will understand. I wish people would stop stressing, Klopp is the reason the transfer window has been a mess, so I don't think he is in any position to make ultimatums.}

4.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 18:32:45
Hi Eds n Reds

Ed001.do you expect a deal to be done now?

atlfc70.

{Ed001's Note - right now? No. Maybe in the next few days. I really don't know, I don't know how desperately Coutinho wants the move this summer. This is when we need Lucas at the club, he would have made sure the lad stayed at least one more season! Right now the club are trying to persuade him to stay.}

5.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 18:38:27
Hi Ed, first time post - I hear Lanzini is the most realistically priced replacement if Little Phil does go - Thoughts? Who would you hope we would consider?

{Ed001's Note - I have not heard of any interest from us and he is likely to sign a new contract with the Hammers I believe.}

6.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 18:41:57
Cheers Ed001

One final question. do you believe he will go in the coming days. hope he stays but I think he'll go unfortunately

atlfc70.

{Ed001's Note - I hope he stays but my head says he will go. Hopefully that has put the jinx on it!}

7.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 18:49:45
Can't Firminio do the the role of Lucas for whatever it's work to keep him if it is an option?

I don't think Lucas being here would make any difference Ed.

When Barcelona come calling it is difficult to say no.

The lure is more to be able to play alongside Messi more than Barca.

Cheers.

8.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 19:00:46
Cheers Ed001 for your replies and opinion. really hope he stays

atlfc70.

{Ed001's Note - so do I, but it is up to him and I will wish him well if he does go. He will be taking a step down in my eyes though, there is nothing that can compare to being at Liverpool.}

9.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 19:34:06
The news is false. Sky Sports have said that Barcelona officials never met with LFC officials and our stance has not changed. Guillem Balaghe via twitter, also said that LFC's stance has not changed and we met with no one.

On the contrary, German sports paper Bild and French media have said that Barcelona officials are in Dortmund to thrash out a deal for Dembele instead. LFC and Klopp are still standing firm and are trying to convince Couts to stay (frankly, Lucas should have been kept to help with this process, really) and we are STILL not selling.

{Ed002's Note - That is incorrect. Just to clarify, there has been one formal offer rejected about 10 days ago. There have since been discussions of a more general basis (e.g. would a player being part of the deal be viable), and Barcelona looking to return witha formal proposal during this week. That is it, and it has not changed (to the best of my knowledge) in the past couple of days. But it will.}

10.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 19:43:33
Well said Ed, on all accounts.

11.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 20:18:47
It's a strange position to be in. In the past having an extra 100+ million to spend could have been incredible. As it stands we clearly have funds available to purchase a CB, there seems to be healthy competition between competent players for the striker role and hence selling would only leave us looking to improve on Coutinho, which is near impossible.

What we have in our favour though is his mentality, attitude and proffesionalism, couple this with Klopp and the clubs stance and we seem safe. Unless something drastic happens I can see us keeping him for the season.

Doesn't stop me nervously checking every source possible every 5 minutes however.

12.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 20:21:06
It's up to him? How is it up to him and was not up to ? or VVD. Klopp may have crapped the bed thus far in this window but their foes seem to be a little inconsistency here.

13.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 20:27:16
Barca have £200mil banked (while carrying large debt according to previous media)
I would want a majority of that for Coutinho!

14.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 20:29:43
Hope he stays and will be a backward step. but to be honest while i think he is out best player perhaps, he is made to sound like he is unstoppable, but in reality he is only unplayable perhaps 1 in 10 games, and yes he scores and breaks teams with some great long strikes, but man. it won't be the end of the world.

I am still very happy we got Klopp, but agree with Ed01 (and normally do) that he has made a mess of this transfer window. but all that aside if couts leaves we will have a lot of money available to entice other very good players (maybe not as good) to the club.

the wheel keeps turning.

15.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 20:47:02
But the hamsters dead?

16.) 08 Aug 2017
08 Aug 2017 22:21:30
The problem is not so much whether he leaves LFC or not, players come and go, but the real problem is the time he'd be leaving in the transfer window. If he was to leave next week I can't see us being able to secure a top quality replacement during this window, especially with how slow we seem to be getting transfers done. At best, I see us panic buying someone easy to get.

I love Phil and he's been great to the club but I couldn't help but feel a little 'betrayed' if he left this late in the window. I know that's just how it's playing out with the Neymar sale being late too but oh well.

17.) 09 Aug 2017
09 Aug 2017 00:25:44
Wake up and realise couts is going to Barcelona. Why on earth would we be talking to them if we had no intention of selling him?
It's not the end of the world (although it has been predicted to end on either August 21st or September 23rd) . Players come and players go, the club still remains.

18.) 09 Aug 2017
09 Aug 2017 02:58:14
Nice one ed001! A step down, like it. Nothing like Liverpool. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he next hears jerry and the pacemakers. Y. N. W. A. Tears I reckon.

19.) 09 Aug 2017
09 Aug 2017 12:57:47
Good post Gareth. I agree that Phil only hook zbout 4/ 5 games by the scruff of the neck, luckily one nor two of those were at the end of season.

Everyone talks of Phil as z midfielder, but he rarely plays there. He is a number ten. And as a forward, who on most team sheets plays up front on left, allowing him to cut in on that right foot of his. Exactly neymars position.

There is no doubt in my mind that we can find ourselves a new number ten who gets more than 14 goals and 7 assists.