Barcelona to step up chase for Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho with £100m bid as they scramble to replace PSG-bound Neymar

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Barcelona will step up their chase for Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho by making a new bid of €120million – over £100m – with the departure of Neymar moving ever closer.

PSG are closing in on a world-record £196m move for Neymar, who left Barcelona's training ground just 43 minutes after arriving on Wednesday morning.

And the Spanish giants want to make his fellow Brazilian Coutinho their big-name capture of the summer.

Barcelona are stepping up their interest in Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho

Neymar arrived at Barcelona's training ground on Wednesday to say his goodbyes 

They are under intense pressure to make a statement signing from supporters distraught at losing Neymar and will go back to Liverpool with an improved offer after a £72m bid was rejected earlier this summer.

Coutinho's future has been one of the stories of the transfer window in Spain, frequently appearing on the cover of Catalan dailies SPORT and Mundo Deportivo.

Anfield boss Klopp, however, still believes he can keep hold of his star man.

Speaking after an impressive 3-0 friendly win over Bayern Munich, he said: 'I can understand that Coutinho is so highly rated, but they can save their energy.'

The Catalan giants are ready to make a bid in excess of £100m for the Brazilian star

Jurgen Klopp remains adamant that his talismanic playmaker is not for sale

Klopp said earlier in the week, when asked if a move for Coutinho would prompt another bid for Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita: 'You formulate the question in a strange way. 

'Where is the interpretation if you say he (Coutinho) is not available to be sold?

'The word "not" means there is nothing to interpret. It is nothing new from our point of view.'

Barcelona have already seen a £72m bid for Coutinho knocked back during this window

Mundo Deportivo report that Ousmane Dembele is a primary target for Barcelona

According to reports in the Spanish press on Wednesday, Ousmane Dembele, Angel di Maria and Kylian Mbappe are on Barca's wishlist this summer.

Mundo Deportivo have called it an 'extreme operation', claiming that Borussia Dortmund starlet Dembele is the player Barca 'like most'.

Spanish radio station RAC1 report that Neymar's visit to the training ground was to say his goodbyes to team-mates as he prepares for a move to the French capital.