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“When war is declared, truth is the first casualty”.

So wrote Arthur Ponsonby in Falsehood in Wartime back in 1928 though several others have expressed similar sentiments down the centuries.

On a far more trivial scale, one could apply the same to today’s footballing landscape.

“When the transfer window opens, truth is the first casualty”.

With hundreds of millions set to change hands in just a few months, negotiations between clubs have almost become an art form.

Bluffs, counter-bluffs, leaks, briefings, denials, offers, refusals, bids, rumours, links, agreements.

The last 24 hours have seen Liverpool fans greeted with headlines from Spain suggesting Barcelona have reached a personal agreement with Philippe Coutinho.

True?

Well with no permission in place for Barcelona to even speak to Coutinho, it would seem most unlikely, though we all know there tends to be other ways and means around such delicate matters.

Odds on the Brazilian being at the Nou Camp by the start of September have been slashed by bookmakers. Around evens seems to be the general price. A one in two chance. A toss of the coin job.

That of course is not what Reds’ fans want to hear of their talisman who has started pre-season in such a rich vein of form.

(Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

Time to panic?

Succour of course comes in the very clear words of the Liverpool manager in the last few days.

Jurgen Klopp isn’t inclined to waste his words on such subjects and he was clear on Coutinho as he spoke to the ECHO in Hong Kong just a few days ago.

“Everything I say comes back from the owners. Yes, I would say (he doesn’t have a price). It’s very clear. He’s not for sale. What else can I say?”

It would be an incredible U-turn for Liverpool - both manager and owners - then to sell their prized asset in the next few weeks, even if Barcelona return with a more realistic offer than the £72m that has already been rejected out of hand.

With Coutinho having signed a new five-year deal in January, worth £150,000-a-week, plenty of the cards remain in the club’s hands. Significantly there is no release clause for Barcelona to trigger.

The player himself has always been respectful when questioned about the situation but has never suggested he wouldn’t be inclined to take the opportunity were it to arise.

Away with Brazil in June, he said this of Barcelona’s interest: “Talking about this is complicated. I have a contract with my club and it is long.

"So my focus is on the present and the national team. My focus is here.”

(Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

Hardly a “no”.

Which means at some point, however unpalatable it seems, Liverpool supporters may need to brace themselves for a situation which sees Coutinho, 25, leave Anfield. But not yet.

Barcelona and Real Madrid remain the unique draws for South American players in Europe. That is simply a fact.

And the competition between the two Spanish giants is likely to have had a part to play in this morning’s headlines.

Madrid, remember, have been strongly linked in the last 24 hours with the signing of Kylian Mbappe from Monaco for a world record fee.

Sitting back and watching their bitter rivals strengthen is not an option for Barcelona, especially with the future of Neymar Jnr still seemingly up in the air with PSG lurking with considerable intent.

If that astonishing 222m euros buy-out clause is met, the Spaniards will have silly money to tempt Liverpool - but Coutinho’s closest friend at Barca will no longer be there.

By far the most likely scenario is of Liverpool retaining Coutinho, for one more year at least.

12 months down the line and Jurgen Klopp will hope to have Mohamed Salah firmly established as an attacking threat.

He will have had more time to prepare his plans for life without the Brazilian, if he must.

And he will hopefully have had a decent Champions League season under his belt to help attract possible replacements.

Luis Suarez gave Liverpool one more year in 2013 before departing for Spain with a thrilling title challenge under his belt.

Coutinho is a very different character and everything we know of him suggests he will give Liverpool at least that.

A few months can be a long time in football. Pictures can look very different.

“I signed this new contract to stay here for a few more years because it’s a great honour for me”.

That was Philippe Coutinho in January 2017.

Who knows what another 12 months at Anfield might bring but there seems no question he will be asked to provide it.