Coutinho’s camp: It was all Barca’s fault

Philippe Coutinho is reportedly seeking clear-the-air talks with Liverpool after Barcelona gave up on trying to sign the Brazilian.

Barca failed to make a breakthrough in their attempts to replace Neymar with the Liverpool attacker and The Independent claims the player is ready for talks to settle any potential bad blood.

It’s understood Liverpool rejected three bids from the Catalans with the final figure believed to be a £118million offer, which in fact proved to be just £82million up front with the rest in add-ons.

Barca had imposed a 7pm Sunday deadline on Liverpool to agree to an offer that they had already rejected 48 hours earlier. The Reds sporting director Michael Edwards ignored their deadline as Liverpool stuck to their stance that the player was not for sale at any price.

It now looks almost certain that Coutinho will remain at Anfield, despite himself submitting an emailed transfer request to the club.

The Independent claims Coutinho’s camp will attempt to shift the blame for the saga on to Barca.

Their report says: “People within the 25-year-old midfielder’s entourage are pointing the finger at Barcelona for manipulating their client and have suggested the Nou Camp club used family members to provide additional pressure. They insist the ill-conceived email was Barca’s idea.”

Now though, Coutinho and his representatives are ready to accept that a move is not going to happen, which leaves the player in an awkward position as he prepares to return to the Liverpool fold.

The 25-year-old has yet to return to full training at Melwood and he will not be involved against either Hoffenheim on Wednesday night or Arsenal on Sunday.