Barcelona transfer news: Philippe Coutinho fears Liverpool are reneging on £148m deal

With just hours left in the transfer market, Liverpool continue to stand firm on their stance that Coutinho will not be sold this summer.

Reports earlier this week claimed Barcelona had finally reached an agreement with Liverpool for a £148.5million (160m euros) transfer.

And it was claimed an announcement was being delayed until Liverpool signed a replacement for Coutinho.

Yet a £40million deal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was confirmed today and there has been no movement in the Coutinho transfer saga.

And according to Yahoo Sport, Coutinho’s representatives are “extremely anxious” about Liverpool forcing the Brazilian to remain at the club.

A source is quoted as saying: “Liverpool are not respecting the agreement they made.”

Meanwhile Spanish football expert Guillem Balague claims Thomas Lemar was eyed as a replacement for Coutinho at Liverpool but with that deal failing to materialise, Coutinho will remain in the Premier League.

“My understanding is that everything that has been written about Lemar and Liverpool comes from the Lemar side and not from Liverpool,” he said on Sky Sports.

“They never had him as a target in this transfer window. They didn’t want to get him, they’re not going to get him now. 

“It’s not up to him so it’s got no link with Coutinho because Coutinho has got no link with anything. 

“Liverpool have said from day one ‘we are not selling’. They told him as well, 'we’re not selling'.

"As a consequence he asked for a transfer request because he was so upset by the fact that Liverpool are not letting him go. 

“Barcelona and Coutinho’s people now are finally getting the message and even though an offer is ready, £150million, perhaps £160million, they haven’t sent it yet, not at this point and they’re very pessimistic this could actually work. 

“Liverpool have always been clear. In the three offers they received, the response has been no and the rejection has been sent back to Barcelona within the hour. 

“So Liverpool are not getting rid of Coutinho.”