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Tite: 'Philippe Coutinho affected by talk over Liverpool future'

Brazil coach Tite says that Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho has been affected by talk over a potential transfer to Barcelona.

Brazil coach Tite has acknowledged that midfielder Philippe Coutinho has been affected by speculation over his future at Liverpool.

Coutinho has been linked with a switch to Barcelona, with the Catalan giants said to be willing to pay £148m in order to push through a transfer for the playmaker.

With just hours remaining in the summer window, it still remains unclear where Coutinho will be playing his football this season, but his national team boss has suggested that the player faces a period of time to get back settled into life in club football.

The 56-year-old told reporters: "It has affected him and will continue to affect him until the transfer window closes."

"If he leaves, he will continue to be affected because he'll need time to adapt to his new club. Players are human beings and they respond in different ways. I'm not sure how he will respond because it depends on the person.

"I don't have an opinion on what is best for him. If he stays at Liverpool. I will be happy. If he goes to Barcelona I will be happy too."

Liverpool signed Coutinho from Inter Milan for £8.5m in January 2013, with 43 goals being netted in 181 appearances during that time.

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Philippe Coutinho in action during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Burnley on March 12, 2017
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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