Barcelona admit defeat in Coutinho pursuit

 

Barcelona and Philippe Coutinho have finally conceded defeat in their attempts to broker a transfer away from Liverpool, reports Sky Sports.

 

Coutinho is desperate to join Barcelona but Liverpool have reiterated all summer that the Brazil international is not for sale.

 

The 25-year-old even handed in a transfer request in order to force through a move to Barcelona but Jurgen Klopp’s side have not changed their stance and even turned down the chance to make in excess of £100m.

 

While the British transfer window shut on Thursday evening, Spanish sides still have until midnight to get their business done, but Barcelona have finally given up on the idea of signing Coutinho.

 

Barcelona are desperate to bolster their attacking options after losing Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer but may now have to settle with Ousmane Dembele for the remainder of the season.

 

 

Coutinho has not featured for Liverpool at all this season after complaining of a back injury but did get on the scoresheet for Brazil during their World Cup qualifier against Ecuador on deadline day.

 

Since January 2013, only Mesut Ozil (50) and Christian Eriksen (46) have created more clear-cut chances in the Premier League than Coutinho (45).