Leaked e-mails show Liverpool plea over Coutinho

Leaked e-mails appear to show that Liverpool asked Barcelona to “stop harassing” Philippe Coutinho during their summer pursuit of the midfielder.

German newspaper Der Spiegel claim that have seen a series of e-mails between the two clubs, beginning with an opening offer of £72m on July 20.

Liverpool’s response was to say that the Brazilian was not for sale “at any price”, but Barcelona returned in early August with a bid of £90m.

Michael Edwards, Liverpool’s sporting director, turned down the offer and added: “I ask you amicably to stop harassing Coutinho publicly and privately. No amount of money will change our minds.”

Barcelona made one more attempt with a bid of £114m but that was again turned down; there are no e-mails supporting the Spanish club’s claim that Liverpool named a price of £183m towards the end of the window.

Coutinho was set to earn £200,000 a week at Barcelona if the deal had gone through.