Premier League giants Liverpool have slapped a mammoth £134MILLION price-tag on Philippe Coutinho in a bid to fend off Barcelona interest, according to reports in Spain.
Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho has agreed terms with Barcelona over a switch to the La Liga club this summer, according to Catalan Radio RAC1.
However, Barcelona will face an uphill task to complete a deal with Liverpool, as FootTheBall had reported last week that the Reds have turned down a £72million bid from Barca for attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho – and have informed the La Liga club not to table another offer as the Brazilian is not for sale.
Coutinho is the highest paid player at Liverpool after signing a five-year deal with the Reds earlier this year – taking home a wage packet of £150,000-a-week.
The Reds have made it clear that they will not allow their star player to leave and have no interest in negotiating a transfer deal for the Brazilian.
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.
According to reports, Barcelona directors arrived in London on Tuesday to discuss personal terms with Coutinho’s representatives and now they will go back to Liverpool with an improved offer.
Liverpool have no intention or need to sell the 25-year-old attacking midfielder and have sent a message to Barcelona with an inflated price tag on the Brazilian in order to keep him at Anfield, according to Diario Sport.
Barcelona are desperate to sign Coutinho, as a replacement for Neymar, who continues to be linked with a world record move to Ligue 1 giants PSG.
Rumours about Neymar’s sensational move to PSG intensified when reports suggested that the Ligue 1 side are keen on matching his mammoth release clause, with Catalan sports outlet daily Sport claiming that the Brazilian player’s representatives believe that it is high time that their client move out of Lionel Messi’s shadow at Barcelona – and be the main man in some other club.
Paris Saint-Germain want to lure him away and are ready to match the Brazilian superstar’s €222 million (£196m) release clause.
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According to reports, Coutinho has already agreed terms with Barcelona over a switch to the La Liga club this summer.
Coutinho is believed to have held showdown talks with Klopp, making it clear to the German that he wants to leave Liverpool.
But, the Reds are under no pressure their prized asset, and last week Klopp said of Coutinho: “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.”