Setback for Liverpool as Coutinho requests transfer to Barcelona

Brazilian forward Philippe Coutinho, who has been the subject of two huge bids from Spanish giants Barcelona, has handed in a Transfer Request to his parent club Liverpool.

The English Premier League club knocked back Barcelona's second bid worth a staggering $117 million (converted from £90 million) and sent a message that their Brazilian star was not for sale. However, the tables were soon turned on the club by the player.

Coutinho's controversial move

Ever since Barcelona's super star Neymar left for PSG in a record breaking move, the club identified his compatriot Coutinho as his ideal replacement. Even though Liverpool has rejected big money bids, the club is now in a bit of a soup since the player handed in a transfer request yesterday.

It is important to keep in mind that a transfer request does not imply that Liverpool will have to sanction the sale. In fact, they can still refuse to sell the player. However, more often than not clubs decide that there is no point in tying down a player who has his heart set on moving to another club.

Coutinho sent the transfer request via e-mail to Michael Edward, who is Liverpool's sporting director and soon the sage unfolded. The club's American owners, Fenway Sports Group had earlier released a statement indicating that the player will not be sold this summer but Coutinho responded with the transfer request.

Club in meltdown

Liverpool has maintained that Coutinho is not for sale at any price and the club's German manager Jurgen Klopp has said the same on many occasions. However, the club's refusal to accept the bids from Barcelona, one of the biggest clubs in the world, has irked Coutinho and the player's relations with the club hierarchy have subsequently broken down.

Coutinho is one of Liverpool's most influential players and his transfer request a day ahead of the club's first game in the new season has come as a massive shock for everyone concerned.

According to the British publication Guardian, the manager is 'seething'. Apparently, the player had been told that he was not for sale.

After the news broke that the player had issued a transfer request, a friend of Coutinho spoke to the media and said that the player had no option but to ask for a transfer. He said, "Philippe has tried very hard to find an amicable solution to the situation but to no avail." He went on to say that Liverpool is notorious for not allowing their players to leave and hence his friend had no other option. It seems Coutinho will be a Barcelona player soon.