In typical fashion, Neymar has taken centre stage and informed Paris Saint-Germain that he wishes to leave the club, as Sky Sports report.
The question on the lips of some Reds fans – as well as the Daily Star – is how this could affect the vague rumours surrounding Philippe Coutinho and a return to Liverpool.
Even in the Sky Sports communiqué it reads: “Philippe Coutinho could potentially be part of an offer for his compatriot but Sky Sports has been told no proposals – neither for a loan move nor a permanent departure – have been put to the former Liverpool midfielder by Barcelona or any other club.”
“However, it is understood Coutinho will not be departing the Nou Camp until Neymar’s circumstances in Paris become clearer.”
While it is understood that there is a somewhat amorphous agreement in place with Barcelona – a “superficial contract” – it is still unclear what will happen with the world’s most expensive player.
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Coutinho’s agent makes huge claim: if he moves back to PL “it would have to be Liverpool”
Back in the summer of 2017, PSG matched his €222 million release clause setting a new world-record transfer in the process.
Behind him, it’s PSG teammate, Kylian Mbappé, and then of course, ironcially, the third-most expensive transfer in history is Coutinho himself for whom Barça were charged a fee of £142 million to take him away from Anfield.
The speculation from the Daily Star suggests that Coutinho could be used as a makeweight for a potential Neymar deal to balance the books and the team.
That said, Coutinho’s agent, Kia Joorabchian has also stated that “Bartomeu was very clear with me, saying he doesn’t want the player to leave and he has a future there.”
It is reported that PSG would be interested in the Brazilians swapping sides, but, after Coutinho’s agent tried to talk up the possibility of a Premier League return – a Reds return no less – this saga could drag on further if he continues to seemingly offer the 27-year-old to Jürgen Klopp.