Coutinho will probably leave - De Boer

Ahead of his side's clash with Liverpool this Saturday, Frank de Boer has said he thinks it is likely that Coutinho will leave this transfer window.

The Dutchman once turned down a move to Barcelona during his time at Ajax, before signing for them three years later, but he doesn't think Liverpool will be able to retain their Brazilian playmaker. 

De Boer turned down the opportunity to play for Johan Cruyff's Barca side during the mid-90s having just signed a new deal with Ajax. Despite his own experiences De Boer admits that clubs cannot do much to prevent unhappy players from moving even if they have long-term contracts at teh club.

Just this summer Virgil van Dijk is unhappy at Southampton, Diego Costa is refusing to return to Chelsea and Coutinho is trying to engineer a move to Barcelona.

"That is a very awkward situation, especially for the managers but also for the players," De Boer said. "It is very hard because you always want players who give 100 per cent for the team and show it every day in training. 

"When somebody is not happy and he wants to leave, you know it is almost impossible that he stays. Then you have to wait until the end of the transfer period and you are still always in doubt.

"Is he going? Do I have to get another player? It is a very difficult job but you have to deal with it. There are no guidelines or studies for that. It happens to you and you have to deal with it. 

"There is almost never a happy ending for one or two. Maybe for the player when he leaves for the club he wants to go to. Still he didn't train normally, he had maybe three weeks doing nothing on his own. It is always different if you are not playing games or training with the squad."