Liverpool Agree £8.5m fee for Philippe Coutinho


Philippe CoutinhoPhilippe Coutinho was seen leaving Liverpool’s Melwood training ground as he finalises a move to the Premier League club.

When Rafael Benitez introduced new signing Philippe Coutinho to the Italian media in the summer of 2010, he declared the Brazilian “the future of Inter Milan”.

Sadly, the playmaker has failed to develop his reputation since then.
The 20-year-old remains a player for the future, rather than a star of the present, and Liverpool have taken a calculated gamble by agreeing an £8.5m deal for him.

Marco Branca, who conducts all transfers for Inter Milan, told BBC Sport: “Coutinho is a very, very good player. He is still only 20 and has a big talent.”

The 20-year-old will then apply for a work permit, which will not automatically be awarded as he has only played one game for Brazil.

Liverpool will be confident of securing a permit on appeal though and should now finalise the deal before the close of the transfer window on Thursday night.

Coutinho, who can play as a winger or a central playmaker, started his career with Vasco da Gama before signing for Inter for 4 millon euros in 2008.

He had to wait until his 18th birthday to join the club formally but then impressed in the first half of the 2010-11 season under former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.
Last season he joined Espanyol on loan and scored five goals in 16 appearances in La Liga.


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