COUNTINHO

Liverpool must pass the test as Barcelona continue to chase Coutinho

Big clubs make big statements. Liverpool have spent the summer trying to flex their muscles in the transfer market, but the results have been mixed.

Jurgen Klopp's pursuit of Naby Keita appears doomed to failure, despite repeated bids. So far, Red Bull Leipzig have turned down £70 million. Virgil van Dijk will probably end up at Anfield despite the shambolic attempt to sign the Southampton defender in June. Liverpool were gloating openly over signing the 26-year-old, despite having made no contact with his club. They were forced to issue a groveling apology to the Saints.

On the plus side, Klopp got one of his main targets when Mohamed Salah signed from Roma for £40 million. The winger was a longstanding target for the club: Liverpool were disappointed to miss out on the Egyptian when he signed for Chelsea in 2014.

But the most disturbing development in the transfer window from Anfield's point of view has been Barcelona's growing interest in Philippe Coutinho. The Spanish club's courting of the Brazilian has, even more than Leipzig's rebuff, reminded Liverpool of their status in the big-club pecking order.

Like many of the Premier League's top echelon, the Merseyside club has become used to bullying "lesser" teams with money. Leipzig were expected to fold when presented with an offer they could not refuse, but it was a miscalculation. The German team's owners have enough cash to refuse to sell.

Liverpool have taken players from Southampton with such regularity that they have become blasé about it. They will be more cautious about their dealings with the south-coast club in future.

Ironically, Southampton were again the victims when Coutinho arrived at Anfield four years ago. The Saints were trying to sneak a deal with Inter Milan across the line but were ultimately gazumped by Liverpool at the last moment. The Reds' overtures to the Brazilian were simple: "Come to Merseyside, and play for a big club." Liverpool offered higher wages, bigger crowds than St Mary's and the prestige of playing for an institution with a glorious history.

Essentially, Barcelona are making the same sales pitch to Coutinho, with Liverpool recast in the role of the "lesser" club.

It is an uncomfortable role reversal for the Premier League team. Even if Neymar, whose £200 million links with Paris Saint-Germain sparked renewed speculation about the Liverpool playmaker's future, stays at the Nou Camp, Barca are unlikely to drop their interest in the 25-year-old. How Anfield's hierarchy handle any serious attempt to lure Coutinho to Catalonia will say a lot about Liverpool's standing in the game.

This is an important summer for Liverpool. In Klopp, they have one of the world's best managers. Klopp led the team back into the Champions League in his first full season. Ambitions (and pressure) have been ratcheted up a notch. Having their best player cherry-picked by one of Europe's giants would be a huge blow to the club's prestige. It would cement the idea that Anfield is a stepping stone rather than a destination.

Fenway Sports Group, the club's owners, are aware of this and would make a stand to keep the player. The initial fees mentioned (£72 million) would not tempt Liverpool. However, Barcelona value Coutinho enough to make a significantly bigger offer. If the figures get close to £100 million, it would present the Merseyside club with a dilemma.

John W. Henry, the principal owner, is hard-headed in his valuations of players. When Arsenal tried to trigger Luis Suarez's £40 million buyout clause by adding an extra pound to the value of the player three years ago, Henry stood firm. Even though the clause should have allowed Suarez to depart, the Liverpool owner was willing to risk legal action to keep the Uruguayan at the club. Suarez stayed another year and almost led the team to the Premier League title. The fee when he left for Barcelona was almost double the original buyout.

The situation with Coutinho is different. The midfielder signed a new contract earlier this year to stay at Anfield until 2022, and there is no buyout option available. In theory, all the power should be with the club.

If Barca are serious about him, that power will be put to the test. The La Liga giants can offer not only Champions League football but also the possibility of winning it. There's more chance of winning titles and medals at the Nou Camp. Barcelona is also, along with Real Madrid, the dream destination for many top players. The lifestyle and culture create a more comfortable environment for them than Merseyside. Keeping Coutinho would be one thing; keeping him happy and productive would be quite another.

In short, this could be a huge test for Liverpool. The English financial bully has come across a bigger beast. Can the Reds compete with the likes of Barca if the latter is serious? No one at Anfield is going to like the answer to that question.