Philippe Coutinho cardboard cut-out taken out of Liverpool club shop: Real reason revealed

PHILIPPE COUTINHO sparked fears from fans after his cardboard cut-out in the Liverpool club shop in the city centre was taken down at the weekend.
But fans worried it was a sign their star man is off to Barcelona have some cause for celebration.

All the figures in the club shop are being removed to prepare for Liverpool’s new autumn fashion range which is being launched today.

Liverpool announced the launch on their Twitter account this morning with a short video (that did not feature Coutinho) and the message: “Our autumn collection. Exclusive to #LFC. In store and online.”

Dominic Solanke, Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum were in the video – they all featured in Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Watford on Saturday although Solanke didn’t get off the bench.

Coutinho has handed in a transfer request at Anfield but Jurgen Klopp is adamant that hasn’t changed the situation with the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group refusing to sell.
In a statement on Friday, FSG said its “definitive stance” was that “no offers will be considered”.




Asked after Saturday’s match if the transfer request changed anything, Klopp said: “You have to ask the club, but I don’t think so because I think it was pretty clear what FSG said about it.”

He then told Sky Sports: “I am responsible for the whole team, all the players, so I need to be focused on the players who are available. The players who are not available, I have no influence over it.

Our autumn collection.

Exclusive to #LFC.

In store and online: https://t.co/Gi6ZexfY3C pic.twitter.com/C038fwdmbJ

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 14, 2017

“I have to accept decisions from the owners, that’s how it is, and sometimes from the players. At this moment I am just concentrating on my team.”

Brazil international Philippe Coutinho emailed a transfer request to Liverpool’s sporting director Michael Edwards on Friday, in direct response to the club’s statement.
Express Sport understands Barcelona are preparing to break the £100million barrier as they make a third attempt to lure Liverpool into selling.

The Spanish giants have already failed with bids of £72m and £90m for the 25-year-old.

Liverpool are understood to rate Coutinho nearer to £145m which is likely to price out even Barca’s budget.

The saga could last until the transfer window closes at the end of the month with Barca seeking to sign a replace for the departed Neymar.

Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne has been linked with Liverpool as a potential replacement for Coutinho.

Source:www.express.co.uk