Murphy: Liverpool should take £80m for Coutinho

Daniel Storey

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Danny Murphy says that Liverpool should sell Philippe Coutinho for £80m.

Coutinho has been pursued by Barcelona over the last few weeks, with an offer of £72m rejected.

Reports have also claimed that Liverpool have slapped a £130m price tag on the Brazilian, but Murphy believes that would be an unrealistic valuation.

“He’s not worth £150m, could they get £100m for him? Maybe,” says Murphy.

“If Barca are prepared to pay over £80m for Coutinho, I think that’s good business.

“Coutinho scored 14 goals last season and that was his best return. If Liverpool rate him at around £100m, what’s Dele Alli worth? He’s better than Coutinho. Different but better.

“If they get £80m or £90m, you’d think they’d sign someone else. We’re hypothesising, but the goals and assists those players get might double or treble what Coutinho was bringing in, and you’ve also not got a player sat there unhappy.

“I’m not saying Liverpool should get rid of Coutinho, because he’s a wonderful footballer and there’s no doubt about that.

“But if he wants to go and we get £80m for him, I’d take that.”