Philippe Coutinho ‘doing everything he can’ to leave Liverpool for Barcelona, says Spanish star Gerard Pique
Pique blames Neymar's £198m move to PSG for sending transfer fees through the roof and seriously affecting Coutinho deal
BARCELONA defender Gerard Pique insists Philippe Coutinho is doing everything he can to quit Liverpool for the Nou Camp.
But the Spanish star told the Daily Mail that the Catalan giants are struggling to pull up the drawbridge on the Brazilian's summer-long transfer saga.
They are reportedly still confident of signing Coutinho despite having had three bids rejected already and the price soaring to £136million.
Pique blames the Neymar transfer, a £198m deal that took him from Barca to Paris Saint-Germain, for sending transfer fees through the roof.
Said Pique: "I think players still want to join Barcelona.
"They are showing that as is the case with Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele - one by putting in a transfer request and the other with his actions at Dortmund.
"It suggests that they are both delighted about the idea of coming; they want to come.
‘The problem is, we sold Ney and the clubs know we have the money from that, and the market is the way it is.
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"I don’t think it’s because the players don’t want to come, they are keen to come to Barca, but right now sign whatever player the club wants, it seems to cost more."
Pique also commented on Lionel Messi's decision to delay signing a new deal with Barca.
"All players have the right to sign or renew their contracts when they want to," he said.
"In the end, a renewal is a question for the club and the player. That's true in all cases, I'm not just talking about Messi.
"When the two sides agree and they find the moment to sign, they sign. We hope it happens as soon as possible."
Pique expects Messi to remain at Barca, adding: "Everyone knows he loves the club more than anyone.
"People shouldn’t be concerned that he won't sign."
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