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Pundits slam Liverpool wantaway midfielder Phlippe Coutinho

Jamie Carragher and Chris Waddle voice their opinions on the latest transfer saga of Liverpool and Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

By Snehanjan Banerjee
Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, right, challenges for the ball with Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho

Bengaluru, August 14: Liverpool find themselves in a major problem at the moment with literally nothing going for them during the summer transfer window.

First, they had to apologise to Southampton for trying to tap up defender Virgil van Dijk and then they had to see as many as three bids rejected by RB Leipzig for Naby Keita. And now to add to their woes, star player Philippe Coutinho has submitted a transfer request.

Just a few hours after the Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group issued a statement that Coutinho will not be sold at any cost this summer, the Brazilian submitted a transfer request which has left the fans fuming as well as the former player turning against the magical number ten.

BBC pundit and former England ace Chris Waddle has cast doubt over the legitimacy of Philippe Coutinho's back injury, and believes Liverpool should sell him.

The Brazilian international missed his side's Premier League season opener against Watford the past weekend with a knock, while it remains to be seen whether or not he recovers in time for the Champions League qualifier against Hoffenheim midweek.

Waddle isn't buying it though, as he believes that ultimately the 25-year-old is looking for a move to Barcelona and has questioned the convenient timing of the injury and believes he's pushing for the transfer to happen after handing in a request on Friday (August 11).

Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has voiced against the selling of Coutinho but has not held his fury against the Brazilian.

"I still think he will be at the club and I would keep him," he said on Sky Sports.

"Luis Suarez put in a transfer request, stayed 12 months and played the best football of his life."

"I've said before there is not a problem with him wanting to go to Barcelona, 99 per cent of footballers all round the world will want to do that," the former defender added.

"When a transfer request goes in, the supporters of that club feel it a little bit more, but again, it's part of the game.

"When that transfer request went in, I'm sure Jurgen Klopp turned around to and said to him 'I know you want to go to Barcelona, you don't have to put it in writing, we know, it's obvious'.

"But the stuff about not getting on with Klopp, these stories getting fed out, that's where I think that crosses the line."

Carragher speaking on a similar situation where Liverpool are involved and Southampton are the victims, he feels there is no problem in the urge to leave a club but one shouldn't cross a certain line to push for the deal.

"I spoke about (Virgil) Van Dijk (of Southampton) where he's not playing or not training, there's no problem wanting to move, it's part of the game but there is a line you don't cross where you ruin your own reputation and that needs to stop.

"Talking about Klopp and not getting on and someone feeding the story."

"Stop that, you've put your transfer request in, now it's up to the club. You've signed a five-year deal, they will make the decision.

"The decision from the owners that they've stated is that he's going to stay."

Story first published: Monday, August 14, 2017, 10:21 [IST]
Other articles published on Aug 14, 2017
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