Guillem Balague reveals new Barcelona bid for Philippe Coutinho after Spanish leaks

The Spanish giants are refusing to give up on signing Coutinho after their efforts were rebuffed in the summer.

Coutinho then fuelled the speculation earlier this month by not unequivocally committing himself to Anfield beyond this season.

This season, the Brazilian has shown little sign that he’s been affected by the speculation with 10 goals and seven assists in his last 13 starts.

When asked for the latest on Coutinho, Balague predicted Liverpool will receive a bid from Barcelona but claimed the Spanish side are short on available funds.

He told Sky Sports: “Liverpool are not putting any price on Coutinho. They are still in the same position they were in in the summer.

“If you read the Catalan press, with leaks from the club and it seems they have put a price and it is €140m euros, which is a prohibitive price in the eyes of many at Barcelona.

“So I just wonder if Barcelona are saying to say ‘Look we cannot pay for him, we are going to go for Griezmann instead’.

“When actually in reality, Liverpool have not put any price for Coutinho.

“So I just wonder if Barcelona are looking for an excuse to come out of the situation more or less right.

“Barcelona will try to get Coutinho in January, they will make an offer, they always said they will.  

“But I get the impression it will be an insufficient offer because I’m convinced they cannot have Griezmann and Coutinho in the same team, they just don’t have money.

“The wages is already 84 per cent of all the income, so they are already way above what should be the limit.” 

His professionalism was hailed by team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after he starred in the 4-0 win over Bournemouth.

Interviewed on Sky Sports alongside team-mate Oxlade-Chamberlain post match, Coutinho was asked whether he wanted to stay at Liverpool until the end of the season.

“I always say the same thing – I try to enjoy the moment,” Coutinho said. “I like to play football and every time when I go on the pitch I try my best.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain then interrupted, adding: “He’s a Liverpool player right now and he’s doing really well for us.

“He’s been the most professional person I’ve seen all season; he’s been top quality from the start and every time he gives his all for the club.

“That’s the most important thing right now.

“It’s not fair to ask those kind of questions, I don’t think, but he gives us his all every game and that’s all you can ask of him.”