Barcelona confident they have secured a £90million deal for Liverpool ace Philippe Coutinho to replace Neymar
Nou Camp giants are flush with cash after striker's £198m move to PSG and think Reds will sell despite Jurgen Klopp's denials
BARCELONA believe they have Philippe Coutinho in the bag.
The Catalan giants are confident of landing the Liverpool playmaker in a £90million deal this week.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are determined to keep hold of the Brazilian and rejected an opening £72m approach.
But Barca are flush with cash following the £198m sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and are now preparing a fresh five-year deal.
Kop boss Klopp has insisted Coutinho, 25, is not for sale.
The German now faces a battle to keep hold of the 27-cap South American.
The transfer could become the joint second biggest in history and match the £90m deal that Manchester United struck with Everton to sign Romelu Lukaku — of which they paid £75m up front.
Coutinho was absent from the Reds’ 2-1 friendly win over Athletic Bilbao in Dublin on Saturday with a back complaint.
Latest Liverpool news
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and gossip with our live blog
Klopp said: “Phil had back problems so there was no reason for any risks.”
Barca are also closing in on a £90m deal to sign Ousmane Dembele from Dortmund.
The France winger, 20, turned down a move from Rennes last summer because he did not want to sit on the bench.
