Third bid for Coutinho reported to total 118 million pounds

Liverpool Echo reports that Barcelona has offered 82.1 million pounds plus 36.5 million pounds based on performance.

LFC has rejected the offer.

I think the USAnfield.com guys are right that pretty much everything rests on what happens against Hoffenheim next Wednesday on the 23rd. With that issue squared away, both LFC and prospective recruits will know where LFC is at.

With a victory and assurance of more Champions League play, LFC will have more revenue coming in (thus may be willing to spend more) and will make LFC more attractive to players they are trying to bring in. If LFC can bring in a top level defender and midfielder, they maybe willing to part with Coutinho for the right price - what that number is who knows!

On the other hand, maybe LFC and FSG wants to bring in a couple more top tier players AND keep Coutinho for a run at the Premier League title and a good showing in the Champions League. In this scenario, they tell Coutinho, you help us pull this off in 2017-2018, Barcelona is going to be offering 150 million pounds next summer 2018 and we will make that deal.

On the other hand, if LFC miss out on Champions League play with a pratfall at home against Hoffenheim, I think they will need to hang onto Couthino with the aim of winning Europa League or a top four Premier League finish to set themselves up for next year. The one bit of leverage they have is that the current contract with Couthino does not have a release clause built into it and Couthino would want to play well at LFC to insure his spot in the Brazil World Cup team for 2018 and to continue to boost his stock for Barcelona's attempt to bid for his services in the 2018 transfer window.

The nerve wracking part for LFC's football minds and FSG's money counters is if they hang onto Coutinho and he winds up not having a spectacular season. If that happens there won't be 118 million pound bids coming over the transom.