Liverpool reject Barcelona’s £90m bid for Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho signed a £150,000-a-week contract with Liverpool in January

Liverpool have rejected a bid of 100 million euros (£90m) from Barcelona for Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho.

Barca’s second bid for the 25-year-old, which was rejected immediately, comprised an initial 85m euros (£76.8m) plus 15m euros (£13.5m) in add-ons.

Liverpool have reiterated that Coutinho – who joined them from Inter Milan for £8.5m in 2013 – is not for sale.

Barcelona sold Brazil forward Neymar to Paris St-Germain for a world record transfer of £200m last week.

Coutinho who scored 14 goals last term and spent six weeks out with an ankle injury, signed a new five-year deal in January, which did not include a release clause.

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Manager Jurgen Klopp said the Reds were not “a selling club” when Barca’s previous £72m offer was rejected in July, and Liverpool consider the matter closed.

Speaking at a news conference in Hong Kong, Klopp confirmed that Liverpool will not consider offers for Coutinho.

“I’m not surprised that any club is interested in players,” he said.

“But we want to make the next step together and for this we need to stay together.”

The German added: “It’s not that I need it but a few people obviously see that Liverpool have a few good players. So, that’s how it is.

“But, a very important message – maybe we’re not a selling club.”

“I think we’re going to achieve big things and I’m sure Phil will be part of that,” he said of the player who signed from Inter Milan in 2013.”

“We’re a massive club, we’re in the Champions League – OK, we need to qualify – but if we’re going to win competitions like that and the Premier League we need to keep hold of players like Philippe.”