La Liga giants Barcelona are on the verge of signing Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho for a club record fee as the Catalans are desperate to rope in a replacement for Neymar, who moved to PSG on a world record fee.
The Catalan giants had already showed huge interest in Coutinho prior to Neymar’s 222 million euro ($262 million) switch to Ligue 1 giants PSG last week.
FootTheBall sources claim that Barcelona officials have landed in Liverpool in a bid to finalise a deal to sign Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho.
According to Mundo Deportivo and the Daily Mail, Barca directors Oscar Grau, Raul Sanllehi and Javier Bordas have arrived on Merseyside to conduct final negotiations over a move for Coutinho, as the La Liga club wants the player to make his Barcelona debut against Real Madrid this weekend.
Barca directors Oscar Grau, Raul Sanllehi and Javier Bordas have arrived on Merseyside to conduct what are said to be ‘final negotiations’ over a move for Coutinho, with a view to the player making his Barcelona debut against Real Madrid this weekend.
Barcelona-based newspaper Sport claimed that a deal for the 25-year-old playmaker is “a question of hours” with Barca officials in England to complete the move.
Sport and ESPN Deportes claimed that Barcelona will pay an initial 90 million euro fee to rope in Brazilian.
However, according to ESPN, claim that the Catalan giants would have splurge 120 million euros after including bonuses and add-ons to secure the signatures of Coutinho.
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Barcelona believe that Coutinho has all the ability to not only step into Neymar’s shoes alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, but he could also become a long-time replacement for captian Andres Iniesta in midfield in near future.
However, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Barcelona “to save their energy” last week, claiming the player wasn’t for sale.
Liverpool, who have returned to Champions League football and is preparing to challenge for the Premier League title in the upcoming season, are not in a mood to lose any of their star players.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp wants to bring the glory days back at Liverpool and Coutinho is in his plans for the long-term future.
Initially the Reds were adamant that their main asset would not be going anywhere this summer, but signs in the last few days suggest that the Brazilian could be heading to the Nou Camp.
After suddenly being withdrawn from Liverpool’s squad to face Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, speculation over Philippe Coutinho’s future intensified.
After losing Neymar to PSG, Barcelona will be desperate to replace him and sign another big name to form the third part of Europe’s deadliest front three alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The Catalans are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season that saw them lose their La Liga crown to Real Madrid and get dumped out of the Champions League at the quarter final stage, making the need to bring in a replacement for Neymar even more crucial.
Coutinho has been Liverpool’s standout player over the last three years, and his skillful style of play suits Barca to the ground making him the ideal man to fill Neymar’s shoes.