Liverpool are ready to sell Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona – but only after next year’s World Cup, according to reports in Spain.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have stood firm in the face of Barcelona’s strong interest this summer and have refused to sell the midfielder even after a £136 million offer was received.
While Liverpool have refused to buckle in the final hours of the Spanish transfer window, which closes at midnight on Friday, Sport claim that the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, are prepared to offload the Brazilian next summer.
Sport report that Liverpool are looking for a similar agreement with Barcelona as they managed to reach with RB Leipzig over the signing of Naby Keita.
Keita was one of Klopp’s priority targets this summer but RB Leipzig’s refusal to entertain offers has meant that Liverpool have been forced into agreeing a deal to sign the midfielder at the end of the season.
Liverpool are paying the 22-year-old’s £48m exit clause, plus an additional fee which is believe to be around £7m.
According to Sport, Liverpool view Keita as Coutinho’s natural successor, which would smooth over the Brazilian’s departure to Camp Nou next year.
Coutinho is yet to feature for Liverpool this season due to a back injury but the 25-year-old found the net in Brazil’s 2-0 win over Ecuador on Thursday evening.
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