Reds believe Coutinho has agreed personal terms with Barca
LIVERPOOL reckon Philippe Coutinho has agreed personal terms with Barcelona – but Jurgen Klopp is pleading with him to stay for at least another year.
Coutinho, 25, has been the subject of intense speculation about a move to Barcelona this summer with the Liverpool star being lined up as a first-choice replacement for Paris Saint-Germain bound Neymar.
The Reds are said to have already rejected an £75million (RM420m) bid from the Spanish giants for the former Inter Milan winger.
But The Sun say Barca are ready to test Liverpool’s resolve again by lodging a bid in the region of £90m (RM504m).
It is said Liverpool believe their prized asset has already agreed personal terms with the La Liga side despite signing a new five-year deal in January.
However, Jurgen Klopp has pleaded with Philippe Coutinho to stay at Anfield for at least another season.
The Merseyside outfit are preparing to compete for the Premier League title and a first Champions League campaign in three years.
But if Liverpool fail to satisfy Coutinho’s ambitions next summer they club will apparently willingly negotiate with Barcelona over a transfer.
The Sun say the Brazilian is open to Klopp’s proposal, but remains besotted by the prospect of signing for Barca.
However, any developments on Coutinho’s future will hinge on PSG confirming a deal for Neymar.
The Ligue 1 giants are supposedly expected to confirm they have paid Neymar’s £196m (RM1billion) buy-out clause in the next ten days.
Should Neymar seal a move to France and Coutinho replace him at the Nou Camp, Klopp will apparently move for Monaco winger Thomas Lemar.
But the German boss has once again reiterated that his prized asset is not for sale.
“There is no other way to interpret it – he is not available to be sold,” Klopp said in his pre-Audi Cup press conference in Munich.
“The word ‘not’ means there is no interpretation for that. It’s nothing new, is it?”
Meanwhile, Barcelona hope that signing Coutinho from Liverpool will prevent Neymar from joining Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports in France.
Barcelona have endured a troublesome summer as they aim to close the gap on Real Madrid at the summit of Spanish and European football next season.
Ernesto Valverde has succeeded Luis Enrique but failed to bring in No1 target Marco Verratti from Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the transfer window.
Since then, PSG themselves have pressed ahead with plans to sensationally lure Neymar away from the Nou Camp.
Express Sport understands the Ligue 1 giants are on the brink of a £196million deal that will see him usurp Manchester United’s Paul Pogba to become the world’s most expensive player.
Despite PSG attempting to sign their star man, Barcelona themselves are attempting to snap up Liverpool playmake r Coutinho.
A nd Spanish outlet Diario Gol claim their interest is due to the fact they feel a move for the Brazilian could be enough to tempt Neymar into staying.
The pair have a close rela- tionship both on and off the pitch and have made no secret of their desire to one day grace the same field. And Barcelona think that playing together might appease Neymar. Speaking in March, the 25-year-old said he wanted his compatriot to join him at Barcelona. “A Premier League player that I would like to have in Barcelona is Coutinho,” he said. “I believe Coutinho is a player that would totally fit in at Barcelona.” – Express Newspapers