Barcelona have sent a warning to Liverpool that they are ‘ready’ to move for Philippe Coutinho in January.
The Catalan club, who sold star man Neymar for a world-record fee to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, failed to sign the Brazilian in the summer.
The playmaker reportedly handed in a transfer request at Anfield, though Jurgen Klopp and the club’s chiefs stood firm, keeping him at the club.
However, Barcelona’s chief executive Oscar Grau says that everything is in place to make a move in the new year.
"We are ready to sign Coutinho or any other player the technical staff request in the winter window," he said.
"We want to have the most competitive squad possible. The club will be sustainable, we don't want losses. If that is the case, we will look for means to generate income."
Liverpool face Manchester United this weekend and will be hoping that persistent talk surrounding Coutinho’s future does not impact on the 25-year-old’s form as they look to bounce back from a disappointing September.
The Spanish side signed Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele as a replacement for Neymar, however, a hamstring injury in just his fourth game has left the Frenchman sidelined for up to four months.
