Former City defender thinks Liverpool have done shrewd business with Barca target Coutinho
The former England international feels that the absence of a buy-out clause could earn the Reds up to £20m more.
Coutinho has handed in a transfer request, presumably in order to push through a move to La Liga giants to Barcelona, but Lescott thinks that the Merseyside club will get their money’s worth.
He told Sky Sports: “I think it’s going to be difficult for Liverpool to keep him.
“It could be a shrewd piece of business from Liverpool not putting a buyout clause in his contract.
“When he signed a new deal, if they put £90m in there, I think every Liverpool fan would have thought ‘well if we get £90million then we will be happy’.
“Now, potentially after the Neymar move, it could potentially be £110m.
"Business-wise it could be a £20m profit off the back of not putting a clause in his contract.
“You don’t know the circumstances and what they’re thinking.
"I just hope it resolves itself sooner rather than later for the simple fact that Liverpool need to get a replacement in if Coutinho does go.
Jacque Talbot
Follow: @Jac_talbot