Coutinho's Move To Barcelona Failed Because Of Klopp's Very Ambitious Target

All summer Liverpool were adamant they wouldn't sell Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona, all summer most of us expected they'd relent. And it seems they might have done if they'd got their very ambitious replacement.

When a club say they won't sell one of their players we've become used to them not keeping that promise, mainly down to Arsenal it has to be said, but Liverpool stuck to their guns this summer over Philippe Coutinho.

Even when Barcelona were reportedly offering €150 million for the player, which despite his ability just seems like ridiculous money for the former Inter player, the Reds' American owners refused to sell.

_{Coutinho is back in the Liverpool team since his back injury cleared up. Image: PA}

Part of the refusal did seem to be that the Premier League club didn't have long enough to get a replacement in and that would probably have left them a bit short on first choice forward options.

However they may have relented if they'd got their first choice target. According to Bild's magazine, via the Mirror, they only rejected Barca's largest offer for Coutinho after having their own bid for Thomas Muller turned down by Bayern Munich.

_{Muller would have been a brilliant signing for Klopp's team and quite the replacement for Coutinho. Image: PA}

Muller would have been a huge coup for Liverpool but it's not the first time the German has been linked with a move to the Premier League with Manchester United, especially under Louis van Gaal, regularly linked to a move for the 28 year old.

Despite once again winning the Bundesliga with Bayern last season the striker who has spent his whole career with Bayern only bagged five goals in the league last term for Carlo Ancelotti's team.

_{Muller raises a pint to staying at the Allianz Arena. Image: PA}

Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke were added to Liverpool's attacking options this summer whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was bought in to add to their midfield options and Andrew Robertson was added at left-back.

Would Liverpool have been better off with Muller instead of Coutinho or did they do better keeping hold of the Brazilian?

Topics: Liverpool, Bayern, Coutinho, Barcelona

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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