Liverpool reject £114m Barcelona offer for Coutinho

Liverpool rejected a third bid from Barcelona, in the region of €125m (£114m), for the unsettled Brazil international Philippe Coutinho.

The Spanish giants had been expected to make an improved offer for the 25-year-old after he emailed a transfer request to Liverpool’s sporting director Michael Edwards last Friday.

That followed a statement from Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, that Coutinho would be staying at Anfield beyond this transfer window and the club’s position has not changed in light of recent events.

As with Coutinho’s transfer request, plus previous Barcelona bids of £72m and £90m, Liverpool responded with an instant rejection.

Pep Segura, Barcelona’s manager of sport for football, claimed in midweek that deals for Coutinho and Borussia Dortmund striker Ousmane Dembele “are very close”, a claim that caused bewilderment at Anfield as they have not entered into negotiations over a transfer.

UCJ, UNILORIN.