The transfer rumours surrounding Philippe Coutinho have burst into life after a couple of hours of statements and confusion.
On the morning of the opening day of the 2017/18 Premier League season Liverpool stated that no offers for Coutinho would be considered – also announcing that the 25-year-old would not be available for the club’s first league game against Watford due to a back problem.
Then the big news came, as Sky Sports News announced that they understood Coutinho had issued Liverpool with an official transfer request.
10am: Liverpool say no offers will be considered. 11am: Announced he is injured.12pm: Coutinho hands in transfer request (Via Sky Sources) pic.twitter.com/kk7hflQimj
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) August 11, 2017
But that was far from the end of the story.
Liverpool then denied reports that the player had handed in a transfer request, adding a whole new dimension to the drama.
I've been told it is "not true" that Phil Coutinho has handed in a transfer request#LFC
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) August 11, 2017
#Breaking Liverpool have denied reports that Philippe Coutinho has handed in a transfer request #LFC pic.twitter.com/4ecSIekT2B
— PA Dugout (@PAdugout) August 11, 2017
It’s safe to say everybody was confused.
12:20: Liverpool deny Coutinho has handed in a transfer request. pic.twitter.com/AVGbObVEf0
— Ball Street (@BallStreet) August 11, 2017
This popular vlogger probably echoed many Liverpool fan’s thoughts when he said Coutinho was crucial to Liverpool’s potential success this season.
The thing is, Coutinho is literally a make or break player for LFC's season, that guy is magic where few others in the team are.
— Reev (@TheReevHD) August 11, 2017
While others felt that if a transfer request had been handed in, perhaps it was time for the midfielder to leave the club.
Selling Coutinho now would benefit Liverpool more than forcing him to stay, look at Payet's case last year.
— Kian Long (@afckian) August 11, 2017
If Coutinho has handed in a transfer request then that's it for me. I don't care who you are if you don't want to represent #LFC anymore 🖐️
— Carl Clemente (@clemente_carl) August 11, 2017
Others were understandably confused by the day’s events.
Can someone tell me what Coutinho is actually doing?? #transferrequest
— Noreen Khan (@DJNoreenKhan) August 11, 2017
#Coutinho pic.twitter.com/FJJ43r7DP0
— Rebecca Parry (@beccaparry10) August 11, 2017
BUT THEN…
Coutinho has now informed #LFC that he wants to leave
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 11, 2017
It is understood that Coutinho submitted the transfer request via email, but will the club’s position on selling the player hold until the end of the transfer window?
Liverpool have rejected Coutinho’s transfer request. FSG statement still holds.
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) August 11, 2017
This one definitely doesn’t seem over.