Philippe Coutinho is a step closer to leaving Liverpool as he has ‘already agreed a contract in principle with Barcelona’, according to reports in Spain.
The Brazilian star has been linked with a blockbuster £89MILLION move to the Nou Camp in recent days.
Liverpool rejected a £72m offer last week with Jurgen Klopp insisting he will be keeping his star man at Anfield next season.
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But, according to RAC1 and Mundo Deportivo, Coutinho has already held talks over a potential contract with Barca – and agreed in principle to terms.
That leaves the Catalan giants free to thrash out a transfer fee with the Reds.
Barca chiefs were in London earlier this week to talk to Liverpool officials and representatives of the Brazilian.
But after the initial offer was rejected, Liverpool appear to be holding out for £89m.
Coutinho has been in the Far East on Liverpool’s pre-season tour, with Klopp’s men now heading to Germany for another four games.
Speaking last week, Klopp again stated he had no interest in selling Coutinho – for any price.
He said: “I’m not surprised that any clubs are interested in players at Liverpool. A few people obviously see that a Liverpool has a few good players.
“But its a very important message to make – we are not a selling club. That’s how it is.”
When challenged to state Coutinho was not for sale, Klopp answered: “Yes, that is what we can say.
“But that is not different to this morning, or yesterday. It was not different at any time, so yes.
“Phil is a very, very important player. He can improve his consistency of course. But there is no doubt about his qualities.
“He has good movement, is very smart in both parts of the game, offensively and defensively. Also technically, that a really, really important.
“We’ve got a really good player. But the nice thing is he is still young and he can still improve.”
Barca are desperate to land Coutinho as a replacement for Neymar, with Paris Saint-Germain said to be closing in on a mind-boggling £195million deal for the forward.