LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 24, 2016: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia in action against Hull City during the FA Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Philippe Coutinho to become Liverpool’s highest earner with new 5-year deal

Philippe Coutinho is in line to agree a new five-year contract with Liverpool that will make him the club’s highest earning player.

  • Brazilian set to extend terms with Liverpool until 2022
  • Deal will make him club’s highest earner
  • No release clause included amid Barcelona interest

Reports emerged on Monday night that Liverpool had entered talks with their key playmaker over an improved deal, and these have seemingly proved positive.

With the 24-year-old eager to commit his future to Merseyside, Coutinho is set to sign a deal that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

This will also make him Liverpool’s highest earner, boosting his wages from around £75,000 a week to a possible £150,000 a week.

According to widespread reports, Coutinho is convinced of Jurgen Klopp‘s project at Anfield, and is prepared to remain at Liverpool into his peak years.

Crucially, the Brazilian’s new deal will not include a release clause, with La Liga giants Barcelona circling in recent months and expected to eventually make a big-money bid.

If that is the case, Liverpool will be in an ideal position to play hardball, with Coutinho’s value continuing to soar.

The former Inter Milan midfielder has blossomed into one of the Reds’ most important players, along with the likes of Joel Matip, Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 24, 2016: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia celebrates scoring the fourth goal against Hull City with team-mate Roberto Firmino during the FA Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

His creativity and goalscoring threat drifting inside from the left have become a key feature of Klopp’s attacking system, scoring six and assisting seven this season.

This is set to continue into the future, as Klopp looks to guide Liverpool towards an elusive first Premier League title, which he will still be hoping is possible in 2016/17.

Coutinho is expected to sign his new deal in the coming weeks, which will serve as a major boost to the club as they look to recapture top form after a mid-season slump throughout January.

Having spent a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury, Coutinho is now returning to full fitness.

And despite concerns over the No. 10’s fitness ahead of Wednesday night’s League Cup semi-final second leg at home to Southampton, he joined first-team training on Tuesday.

Likely one of a handful of new contracts to be finalised in 2017, Coutinho is set to be followed in extending his deal by the likes of Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana.

For Emre Can, however, discussions have proved more fraught, with the German facing a potential summer exit if he doesn’t agree to new terms before the end of the season, with his current contract set to expire in 2018.

This would be a disappointing juncture for the Reds, but clearly Coutinho’s future takes priority.

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