Philippe Coutinho signs new 5-year contract – OFFICIAL

Philippe Coutinho has signed a new 5-year contract with Liverpool Football Club.

The 24-year-old Liverpool ace has put pen to paper on a new deal with the amendments and various terms coming into effect from July 1st.

Commenting on the deal, Coutinho said: “I would like to thank everybody at the club, first of all.

“I am very happy to sign a new contract here. 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.

“I signed this new contract to stay here for a few more years because it’s a great honour for me. It gives me great happiness because I was welcomed here with open arms by everyone at the club and the supporters right from my first day. I am very thankful to this football club for everything.”

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Boss Jürgen Klopp added: “This is wonderful news and I know everyone associated with LFC will be delighted when hearing this today.

“I think everyone knows what a great footballer Phil is, that is not in question – but not everyone sees what an incredibly positive character he is and what a big influence he is on the dressing room.

“I knew of Phil before I came to Liverpool and I was well aware of what a talent he was, but since arriving here I have not only witnessed his ability up close, but also his ever-continuing development. He is truly world-class – in that very top bracket.

“The fact he wants to stay here and be part of what we are looking to build and develop shows his personal commitment is to make himself better and be an integral part of something that is very special.

“We have total belief in our project, but when a player of Phil’s calibre and status commits for this length of time it shows that our faith is shared throughout the game. He knows he can fulfil his dreams and ambitions here at Liverpool. This is a big statement.

“I look forward to seeing Phil create many more great memories and moments for this club.”

Well-placed sources say the terms of the deal mean that Coutinho is now the club’s highest-paid player on around £150,000-a-week, although some tabloids are claiming the terms are closer to £200,000-a-week.

Anfield officials are making it well known via the media that “there is no release clause” to try and calm pessimistic suggestions that the contract will mean nothing if Barcelona step-up with a bid in the future. The specifics and wordings of his contract won’t, of course, be made public.

While we welcome this well-timed ‘good news’ we still believe that Coutinho will leave the club if the opportunity to make a move to the Nou Camp presents itself, release clause or not. It is also extremely important that the owners back the manager fully in the summer so that he can recruit players of a similar caliber to show intent to the club’s best players.

More on this on KopTalk.TV (free) today.