Philippe Coutinho destined to join Barcelona on Tuesday… maybe for as much as £120million
Liverpool resistance beginning to fade as Anfield begins to contemplate life without the magical Brazilian midfielder
PHILIPPE COUTINHO looks destined to become a Barcelona player this week - maybe for a whopping £120million.
Barcelona are itching to spend a decent chunk of the £198m received for Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.
And it seems the Spanish giants simply won't be put off by Liverpool's reluctance to sell and a deal could be struck by Tuesday.
According to the Daily Mirror, the Reds are ready to bow to Barca pressure and release the Brazilian midfielder.
Coutinho has long been on the Barcelona radar.
And even though Reds' boss Jurgen Klopp must do without injured England star Adam Lallana out for two months or so, the writing is on the wall.
Reports in Spain say officials from the La Liga side have travelled to England three times to meet with Coutinho's representatives.
Coutinho, a £8.5m buy from Inter Milan in January, 2013, has started 158 games for Liverpool, scoring 43 times.
He is said to have told Liverpool that he wants out and that Barcelona is his chosen destination.
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Now it's down to Anfield bosses to hammer out the best possible fee.
And, knowing the Neymar money has swelled the vast Barca war chest, they are likely to push for close to £120million.
Barca have already offered around £80m but will go much higher to close the deal.
One the final fee is agreed Coutinho would travel to Barcelona to undergo the medical examination and sign a five-year contract.
Who is Philippe Coutinho?
- Born on June 12, 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Joined Vasco de Gama aged sevenm but was signed by inter for €4m at just 16-years-old
- He stayed in Brazil for two years, making his debut as a teenager and helping the team to promotion in his second season
- Made his Inter debut in 2010 but struggled to break into the first team - loaned to Espanyol in January 2012, impressing with five goals in 16 matches
- After failing to establish himself in Italy, was sold to Liverpool for just £8.5m in January 2013
- Has since become one of Liverpool's best players, winning Fans player of the year twice and being named in the Premier League team of the year in 2015
- Made his Brazil debut in 2010 but became an established regular in 2015
Coutinho, meanwhile, missed Liverpool's friendly with Athletic Bilbao on Saturday with a sore back.
Roberto Firmino, Ben Woodburn and Dominic Solanke stepped up in the Brazilian’s absence and netted for Klopp’s side at the Aviva Stadium.
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