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Report: Liverpool implored Barcelona to 'stop harassing Coutinho'

Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes

Liverpool appeared to plead with Barcelona to "stop harassing" Philippe Coutinho during the Catalan club's much-publicised pursuit of the fleet-footed Brazilian.

German newspaper Der Spiegel, working in tandem with whistleblowing website Football Leaks, released email correspondence purported to be between the two clubs during the summer. In the exchange, Liverpool seems to be standing firm despite Barcelona's continued approaches for Coutinho, and there's no evidence of the Merseyside outfit setting an asking price for the 25-year-old. The latter scenario was claimed to have occurred by both Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and director Albert Soler, with the alleged tag around Coutinho's neck requesting a princely sum of €200 million.

The emails reveal an initial £72-million bid was tabled by Barcelona, and after that was spurned an improved £90-million offer was submitted. The Reds fought off three approaches from Barcelona overall, prompting the club's sporting director, Michael Edwards, to request an end to an interest which was unsettling Liverpool's player.

"I ask you amicably to stop harassing Coutinho publicly and privately. No amount of money will change our minds," Der Spiegel quotes Edwards, via The Independent.

The report also claims Coutinho would've received £101 million over the course of a five-year contract on the Mediterranean coast.

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