Alan Shearer believes that Liverpool ace Philippe Coutinho may have dropped a big hint over his future amid reports he could seal an Anfield exit in the near future.
Shearer has speculated as to why the 25-year-old didn’t celebrate wildly after scoring a hat-trick in midweek during a 7-0 win over Spartak Moscow in the Champions League.
The Echo report that Barcelona are firmly keen on signing the Brazil international after failing to land him in the summer transfer window.
It is understood that a £120million bid from Barcelona in either January or next summer could leave the Merseyside club pondering his sale.
Shearer was astounded with Coutinho’s muted celebrations after his display in the Champions League and suggested that it could be a hint on his future.
“On a side note I watched Liverpool last night and was very interested to see Philippe Coutinho barely celebrate despite scoring a hat-trick. Could that be a sign that he’s off elsewhere in January?” Shearer wrote in his column for Coral.
OPINION
Coutinho is certainly one of the outstanding players in Jurgen Klopp’s squad and the Liverpool fans will be desperate for him to stay. The creative playmaker has been in sensational form this campaign despite the uncertainty surrounding his future in the summer. However, he seems destined to end up at the Camp Nou and the Brazilian has all the tools to become a superstar at Barcelona, with many fans naming him as the heir to Andres Iniesta. Liverpool could find it impossible to resist another raid from Spanish giants Barcelona in the New Year and a lot may rest on the players’ wishes. Liverpool do now have a brilliant attacking force with the likes of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, but Coutinho is perhaps still the crown jewel at Anfield.