Liverpool reject Philippe Coutinho transfer request

Philippe Coutinho has submitted a transfer request that has been rejected by Liverpool.

The Brazil playmaker has been targeted by Barcelona, whose bid of around £90m (€99m) was rebuffed by Liverpool on Wednesday.

It is understood Coutinho — who is out of today’s Premier League clash with Watford because of a back problem — declared his desire to leave the Merseyside club yesterday by submitting a transfer request via email. The request was turned down.