This is all PSG’s fault.
Ever since the Ligue 1 club decided to make a mockery of football with their £198million signing of Neymar, the likelihood of Philippe Coutinho leaving Liverpool has grown more and more by the hour.
Now the Brazilian playmaker is destined to become a Barcelona player this week – for a whopping £120million.
The Catalan giants are deteremined to replace Neymar with at least one world-class talent before the transfer window ends.
And it seems barcelona simply won’t be put off by Liverpool’s reluctance to sell.
Now, according to the Daily Mirror, the Reds are ready to bow to Barca pressure and release the Brazilian midfielder for an astronomical fee.
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Coutinho has long been on Barcelona’s radar.
And even though Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp must do without injured England star Adam Lallana for the opening two months of the seaon, 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, 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.
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 £120million.
Coutinho 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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