Gossip: Coutinho 'fuels Barcelona rumours', Rodriguez 'says goodbye to Real Madrid', Batshuayi 'will still leave Chelsea'

As a football fan approaching the reopening of a transfer window, what you’re seeking from your star player is words of comfort and reassurance.

Unequivocal statements such as “I want to stay here for many years” and “I will never turn my back on these wonderful fans”, rather than wishy-washy platitudes such as “You never know what can happen in football” and “My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates”.

So Liverpool fans should be feeling very afraid this morning.

READ MORE: Five things we learned as Tottenham beat Manchester United

READ MORE: Tottenham end White Hart Lane era with victory over Manchester United

Despite firing the Reds to the brink of Champions League qualification with a match-winning display against West Ham yesterday, Philippe Coutinho’s comments have done little to assuage Reds supporters’ fears that he won’t be sticking around to participate in next season’s tournament (at least, not for them).

Asked about rumoured interest from Barcelona, the Express reports that Coutinho responded with a series of terrifyingly vague sentences, including:

• “What I have to do is focus on football and those things are resolved by the business people.”

• “Barcelona is one of the best teams in the world.”

• “So far, nothing has come to me, because if anything comes, it comes to my manager.”

• “I’m happy to know that a great club has an interest. It’s cool.”

Which, when you piece it altogether, leaves the impression that Coutinho is almost certainly on his way to the Nou Camp, or at least wants to be.

Meanwhile, James Rodriguez has also indulged in behaviour that suggests his imminent departure from Real Madrid, reports the Mirror.

Solemn

The Colombian engaged in some “apparent waving” and gave a “solemn clap” when he was substituted in yesterday’s 4-1 victory against Sevilla, sparking speculation that he is definitely going to sign for Manchester United.

“Or it could have just been because it was the last home game of Real’s season,” admits the Mirror. Or, indeed, it could have been because he was being substituted.

Man Utd could also sign 23-year-old Malmo forward Pawel Cibicki, who is also wanted by Ajax, Napoli and Real Betis and would cost about £7.5m (Sun).

If Michy Batshuayi thought winning Chelsea the league would finally endear him to Blues manager Antonio Conte, he thought wrong. The Mirror reports that the Belgian striker will still be sold in the summer, despite his historic intervention against West Brom on Friday.

Elsewhere, Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare says the Foxes won’t “pander” to their star players to keep them at the club (Mirror), Burnley boss Sean Dyche has warned fans the Clarets won’t “spend big” despite staying up (Mail) and AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has “told friends” he is set for a summer transfer to England (Sun). But we wouldn’t really trust his friends because they’re all, like, 17 years old and probably off their faces on cheap Italian cider.