It would appear from most sources reporting on the deal that Barcelona are not going to take no for answer regarding Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho, and most of the club's fans are prepared for a saga that looks set to drag on for the remainder of the transfer window.
However, Paul Joyce from The Times has reported this evening, that Barcelona are nearly ready to walk away and have issued a take it or leave it offer to Liverpool that will expire on Sunday if the Merseyside club do not accept it:
Barcelona’s response to having a third bid of up to £118million rejected for Philippe Coutinho was to make contact with Liverpool again on Friday and impose one of the transfer market’s more bizarre deadlines.
The Catalan club, in all their wisdom, informed Anfield officials that they have until Sunday evening to change their mind, and belatedly accept the offer, or it will be withdrawn.
In other words, a bid Liverpool have twice told Barcelona not to make is instantly rebuffed and their rivals’ next move is to threaten to take it off the table.
Finally in this saga, the Camp Nou club has managed to do something which served as a source of amusement for Liverpool’s power brokers.
Although the ultimatum is of some amusement to the Liverpool board, Barcelona are anxious to move onto other targets if they cannot sign the Brazilian, having lost Neymar to PSG, they were blown away by Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate last Wednesday in the Spanish Super Cup and their La Liga campaign kick's off tomorrow, when they take on Real Betis.
Barcelona are believed to be interested in PSG's Angel Di Maria if their pursuit of the Coutinho yields no dividends, and Ousman Dembele, who is trying to force a move through to Barcelona, has been suspended by the German club for failing to turn up for training last week.
Liverpool fan's are understandably anxious to hold on to Coutinho but if he goes, they have a ready made replacement in Sadio Mane, who came off the bench to net Liverpool's only goal of the game when they beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at Anfield.
Read Paul Joyce's full article with the times here
