Man City douse Liverpool cheer with move for star midfielder
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No matter how heady life gets, the world always finds a way to curtail the excitement. If any set of fans know the harsh reality of that statement it’s Liverpool’s.
Dizzying highs have been followed by crushing lows a little too often at Anfield of late. Luis Suarez left the summer after the club’s agonising near-miss in the 2013/14 Premier League title race.
A return to the Champions League the following term set heartbeats a flutter, only for the club to slide into the Europa League then out of mid-week action entirely through their dismal displays.
Daniel Sturridge’s regular stints in the physio room and a bodged effort to keep the iconic Steven Gerrard onboard have also ensured the Reds faithful can never get too carried away.
Now, amid a surge of optimism ahead of Bundesliga-winning coach Jurgen Klopp’s arrival as the club’s new manager, transfer rumours have surfaced to burst the bubble.
It has become an unwanted trend that Liverpool lose their best players in summer windows, and the Daily Mirror expect that to continue next year.
They report that Manchester City, a year on from plucking Raheem Sterling out of Melwood, want Philippe Coutinho as a long-term successor to Spanish whizz David Silva.
That’s following on from rumblings that Barcelona will also pursue the possibility of landing the Brazilian playmaker, having developed a commercial relationship with Liverpool when landing Suarez.
Both suitors are willing to pay the big bucks for 23-year-old Coutinho and the Mirror suggests Liverpool will start the bidding at £50m.
The midfielder’s compatriot David Luiz has even had his say on his international teammate’s future, indicating he doesn’t believe Coutinho will remain on Merseyside should the club fail in their quest for Champions League football.
Ladbrokes make the Reds a 23/10 chance for the top four this term, so it seems Klopp could have a transfer saga on his hands this summer.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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