French champions Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly made contact with the representatives of Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho over a possible transfer.
Coutinho, 23, signed a five-year contract back in February, but the Reds will be without Champions League football next season, having finished eighth in the Premier League.
It is understood that the French champions have already sounded out Coutinho’s representatives about a possible move, and that Liverpool are aware of their interest in the 23-year-old – although no official approach has been made at this stage.
PSG have turned their attention to Coutinho because of a failure to land either Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar, with Chelsea winger Eden Hazard also no longer an option, according to reports in France.
Coutinho finished the season with seven goals in the Premier League, the third-highest of any player in the Liverpool squad.
His form helped the club to the Europa League final, where they were defeated 3-1 by Sevilla, while he earned a call-up to Dunga’s Brazil squad for the Copa America Centenario.
The Reds would be expected to fight to keep their player of the year at Anfield, of course. Coutinho signed a five-year contract in February 2015, and has been a key player under Jurgen Klopp this season.
The club’s previous stance, when confronted with reported interest in Coutinho from Manchester City, was that the player was not for sale.
Liverpool have seen the likes of Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling walk away from the club during the past two years, and having missed out on Champions League football next season could be in a vulnerable position once more.
Coutinho is understood to be on the radar of at least two other European clubs as well as PSG.
The former Inter Milan man is currently in the USA with Brazil for the Copa America, and goes into the tournament off the back of a strong season for his club, in which he scored 12 goals and helped his team to two finals.
PSG are expected to once more spend big this summer, with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard another name linked.
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