Guardian: Reds make third Coutinho offer

Liverpool have submitted a third offer for Philippe Coutinho and are adamant it is their final attempt to persuade Internazionale to sell the talented Brazilian midfielder.

They have again offered around £8m for the 20-year-old, a fee that Inter rejected on Wednesday, but their latest bid increases the amount the Italian club would receive up front. Liverpool's previous offers were heavily incentivised and therefore did not appeal to a club that is seeking to reduce its debt in this transfer window.

Inter have accepted £10.2m from Southampton for Coutinho, who played under their new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, while on loan at Espanyol last season, but the player has told his employers he is not interested in a move to St Mary's Stadium.

That has encouraged Liverpool's belief that a deal can be struck for less, although £8m also reflects the value their scouting network have placed on the midfielder. Liverpool are pressing for an answer from Inter this weekend as they would need to apply for a work permit for Coutinho, whose one senior appearance for Brazil does not meet the criteria.

Source: The Guardian