http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/201 ... r-request/
It is evident no matter what Barcelona offer, Liverpool will not sell the 25-year-old this summer.
That principal owner John W. Henry and his colleagues decided to make this announcement is significant. Although Liverpool have been robust in their stance to date, the statement is a reassurance as there is no prospect of the club backtracking having made such a public pledge.
Those who have pointed to previous examples where Liverpool were initially reluctant to sell star players under FSG but then accepted bids – such as with Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling – have misread the situation.
Torres had a £50 million clause in his contract so Liverpool were powerless to prevent his exit to Chelsea.
Suarez was stopped from signing for Arsenal in the summer of 2013 when Henry issued a public statement similar to that on Coutinho now – that was despite the Uruguayan offering sit-down interviews at the time pleading with the club to sell him. Liverpool refused.
The Uruguayan left for Barcelona 12 months later after signing a new deal which also included a sale clause. Liverpool were able to keep Suarez for another year, and there will be those who anticipate that Coutinho will find the club more sympathetic should he ask to leave in 2018, giving Liverpool more time to find a suitable replacement.
With Sterling, the board never issued any statements vowing to keep him as they were prepared to sell at a price nearer £50 million.
