Is winning the Premier League crucial to Liverpool star staying put?
Published:
To put it simply, Liverpool have been on fire this season. Right from the first whistle, they’ve proved themselves to be genuine contenders for the Premier League title this year having scored a staggering 24 goals in their opening 10 games.
But such a phenomenal start has inevitably left scouts from some of Europe’s elite clubs lurking around Anfield, and there’s one name in particular they’re interested in – Philippe Coutinho.
With Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain both reportedly interested in Coutinho’s services, it emphasises just how crucial top-flight success is to keeping hold of the 24-year-old beyond next summer.
Since the Brazilian arrived on Merseyside back in January 2013, Liverpool haven’t had the best of times in the league.
Granted, they came incredibly close to winning the title back in the 2013-14 campaign, but aside from that season, their other league finishes (eighth in 15-16 and sixth in 14-15) suggest they’ve been a little lucky to keep hold of the ‘Magician’ up to this point.
In that time, Coutinho has featured on 117 occasions in the league, providing 25 goals and 28 assists, an excellent return from the attacking midfielder.
And he’s only getting better, having already found the back of the net four times while assisting the same amount this season.
Real Madrid have a habit of pinching some of the finest creative players in the Premier League, such as Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, French giants PSG are always looking to flex their financial muscles, and a reported asking price of £68m is unlikely to put the Ligue 1 champions off.
So what does Jurgen Klopp need to do to keep hold of Coutinho?
One would assume Champions League football may be enough to keep the wanted playmaker at Anfield, at least for another season. However, should Klopp’s men go all the way and lift the title come May, it would be hard for Coutinho to leave the side anytime soon.
However, finishing outside of the top four for the seventh time in eight years would surely spell the end of the Magician’s time on Merseyside, especially with interest growing in him.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
