sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Liverpool Legend Says Club Made Mistake Keeping Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool Legend Says Club Made Mistake Keeping Philippe Coutinho

"I would have accepted an offer in excess of £100 million"

Anonymous

Anonymous

Graeme Souness reckons Liverpool made a big mistake in keeping attacker Philippe Coutinho during the summer transfer window, and should have cashed-in on Barcelona's mammoth offer.

The former Reds midfielder has been watching on from the sidelines as his old club battled to keep their prize asset from the clutches of the Catalan giants, who reportedly offered as much as £130 million for the Brazilian playmaker.

In the end, the transfer window slammed shut on Thursday evening with Coutinho still a Liverpool player, but Souness insists that could turn out to be a big mistake.

Speaking in an interview with the Sunday Times, via the Independent, the three-time European Cup winner said, "I would have accepted an offer in excess of £100m for [Coutinho].


Coutinho
Coutinho
Coutinho Injured
Coutinho Injured

The Brazilian playmaker was reportedly left devastated after Liverpool rejected Barcelona's efforts to land him, this summer. Images: PA

"I know Paris Saint-Germain have paid £198m for Neymar and another £166m for Kylian Mbappe from Monaco, for his potential as an 18-year-old, but I would argue that for that sort of money they have to be game-changers on a regular basis. I would have taken Barcelona's offer."

"You would like to think, given that the boy signed a five-year contract only in January, he would have some respect for Liverpool.

"The common sense way would have been for him to turn round, so it was coming from his mouth, and say: 'I'll stay another year.'

"That would have been doing the right thing by the club and the club doing the right thing by him, as happened with [Luis] Suarez."


Coutinho
Coutinho

Several reports claimed that Liverpool were holding out for a bid of of 200 million euros for Coutinho, although the Anfield club have since denied these rumours. Image: PA

Of course, Souness has a point when he argues that Jurgen Klopp could have used the cash to replenish his squad, say, in defence, but how much would they have missed Coutinho overall?

Liverpool fans - are you glad he stayed at the club? And what do you make of Souness's comments?

Have your say in the comments sections below and on our Facebook page.

This story was first featured on talkingbaws.com - simple, shareable sport. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Liverpool, FC Barcelona, Football, Philippe Coutinho, Graeme Souness