La Liga giants Barcelona are set to launch a final £138million bid for wantaway Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool have rejected Barcelona’s three back-to-back bids for Coutinho, but the Spanish giants believe that the Brazilian superstar is keen to make a move to the Nou Camp.
Earlier last week, the Reds had issued an official statement saying that Coutinho would not be allowed to leave but the Brazilian playmaker has handed in a transfer request in order to force trough a move to Barcelona.
But, the Catalan giants are ready to launch a fourth and final offer of £100m up front with another £36m in add-ons – despite informing Liverpool that they had made their final bid last week.
The add-ons include £9m each time Barcelona qualify for the Champions League over the course of the next four seasons – which is understood to be virtually guaranteed.
Coutinho, who is desperate to make a switch to the Nou Camp is yet to play a game for Liverpool this season due to a ‘back injury’ and fellow team-mates, including skipper Jordan Henderson, have begged him to stay put at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp said last night that the Brazilian star was now “ill” and he had no idea when he would return.
When asked whether he would welcome Coutinho back into the first team, Klopp said: “Of course. You ask if everything is OK between me and him. I answer of course. Yes. Absolutely.”
When the former Dortmund manager was pushed further over the transfer situation, he said: “Nothing has changed.”
Barca’s £118million third bid was immediately rejected, which came after the Catalan giants hoped to make a breakthrough after Coutinho handed in a transfer request.
This followed a statement from the Kop owners, Fenway Sports Group, who made it clear that the Brazilian playmaker would not be allowed to leave this summer.
Coutinho, who scored 14 goals last season, signed a new five-year deal in January, which did not include a release clause. He joined Liverpool from Inter Milan for £8.5m in 2013.