Liverpool must sell Philippe Coutinho: He was never going to lead Reds – Ronnie Whelan

PHILIPPE COUTINHO is not the kind of player Jurgen Klopp can afford to have at Liverpool, according to Ronnie Whelan.
The Brazil international has handed in a transfer request at Liverpool but the Reds are not willing to let him leave this summer.

Jurgen Klopp admits Coutinho’s future is out of his hands but Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group issued a statement last week insisting the 25-year-old is not for sale.

Barcelona have already had bids of £72million and £90m rejected but Coutinho’s recent transfer request is expected to lead to a third bid from the La Liga giants.




And Whelan, who won six league titles with Liverpool during the 1980’s, believes Liverpool shouldn’t let the transfer saga carry on much longer.
“It’s time for everyone at Anfield to stop the hand-wringing over Philippe Coutinho and sell him because Jurgen Klopp needs to spend big on defenders,” Whelan wrote in his column for the Irish Independent.

“I rate Coutinho as an attacking player but I’ve always had doubts about him as a man to build a team around.

“Too often I see him drift out of a game and the very best in the business don’t do that.
“He’s not a man to lead or to rally players when the going gets tough and while Barcelona can indulge talent like that, Klopp cannot afford to.
“Liverpool should milk this deal for as much as they can get and they are playing hardball but I don’t think they should hesitate if it comes to a crunch moment.”

Source:www.express.co.uk