Philippe Coutinho transfer saga

2013

30 Jan: Philippe Coutinho joins Liverpool from Inter Milan in an £8.5m deal.

The transfer was complete with just one day of the transfer window remaining.

"Liverpool is a great club with great players,” he said. “We've always heard about Liverpool's history in Brazil. I know they believe in me and my football."

2016

Summer: Barcelona first emerge as a serious suitor for Coutinho, although Paris Saint-Germain appear most likely to register their interest.

October: Reports surface that Coutinho wants to join Barcelona as the transfer chatter refuses to die.

2017

6 Jan: Jurgen Klopp issues statement telling Barcelona to forget about signing Coutinho.

“We never had any ideas or plans or any talks about him leaving, because he is our player – there are no other ideas, nothing has changed,” Klopp said.

25 Jan: Coutinho signs a new five-year contract at Liverpool. The deal is meant to end Barcelona’s interest in the Brazilian, who will earn £8m a season.

“I am very happy to sign a new contract here,” Coutinho said.

“It is a club that I am very grateful to and this shows my happiness here.

“I will work much harder to repay the belief shown in me.”

April: Liverpool insist Coutinho is not for sale at ANY price.

Klopp says: “I think it’s positive when there is interest. It shows it’s good. I am not concerned because I think Phil fits really well and comfortable here.”

9 May: Philippe Coutinho ‘agrees’ to join Barcelona.

Catalan press ramp up the rumours of the Brazilian leaving Anfield, with claims his representatives have sorted out a deal.

1 July: Summer transfer window opens. Bookies install Barcelona as favourites to land Coutinho.

4 Aug: Barcelona reluctantly sell Neymar to PSG in a £200m hostile transfer.

The search for a replacement begins, with Coutinho their top target.

9 Aug: Liverpool reject Barcelona’s first bid of £90m for Coutinho. A second bid is also snubbed.

11 Aug: Coutinho hands in transfer request.

12 Aug: Coutinho makes himself unavailable for Liverpool’s season opener at Watford. He effectively goes on strike.

17 Aug: Barcelona general manager Pep Segura says a deal was close.

Klopp responds, saying: "I don't know why other people are saying what they are saying.

"I don't even know them - especially this guy. I've never even met him."

18 Aug: Liverpool reject a third bid of £114m for Coutinho.

19 Aug: Coutinho also misses a home win over Crystal Palace, with a back injury to blame for his absence.

23 Aug: Barcelona consider £138m bid for Coutinho but it is never made.

28 Aug: Despite still not playing for Liverpool this season, Coutinho is declared fit for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers.

Brazil’s team doctor says: “From a medical point of view, Philippe is in the perfect condition to play.”

1 Sept: Coutinho scores for Brazil on transfer deadline day after realising there will be no late agreement between Liverpool and Barcelona.

13 Sept: Coutinho makes his first Liverpool appearance in the 2-2 Champions League draw with Sevilla, coming on as a substitute to a standing ovation at Anfield.

19 Sept: Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu explains why a summer deal fell through.

He says: “I will not say how much we offered, but they asked for €200m,” he told TV3.

“We weren't going to give €200m or €150m - we decided to step away from such an expensive market, our offer was less than €100m, with add-ons it could have reached €120m.”

Liverpool deny they requested a €200m transfer fee later that day.

21 Dec: Coutinho’s representatives supposedly agree a £200,000-a-week contract with Barcelona.

The five-year deal will see Coutinho become one of Barca’s best-paid players.

His agents now need to convince Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group to sell up.

30 Dec: Nike accidentally publish a promotion for Barcelona players to buy a shirt with Coutinho’s name on the back. Neither Nike nor Barca comment on the leak.

31 Dec: Express Sport understands a £125m deal could be brokered between Liverpool and Barcelona - and that Coutinho may remain on Merseyside until the end of the season.

2018

1 Jan: January transfer window opens and Coutinho has an unexpected thigh injury, ruling himself out of the game at Burnley.

2 Jan: Reports that Coutinho has gone on strike surface.

5 Jan: Catalan newspaper Sport claim Liverpool and Barcelona agree on £142m fee with £122m being paid up front.

6 Jan: AS suggest Coutinho has said goodbye to Liverpool team-mates.

6 Jan: The deal is done and Liverpool are poised to officially announce the move.