Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho is hoping to make the move to Barcelona this summer, the infamous Sky sources have claimed on Monday.
The 25-year-old has already been the subject of a failed £72 million bid from the Spanish side, with the Reds swiftly rejecting their approach last month.
But Barcelona have been continually linked with a renewed approach for Coutinho, having received a major financial boost following Neymar’s £200 million move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Expected to make another offer to the Reds before the end of the transfer window on August 31, the Liga giants may be more confident this time out.
According to Sky Sports, “Coutinho would like to move,” but only “if a deal can be done amicably with Liverpool.”
“Coutinho will not rock the boat at Anfield and he would only leave Liverpool for Barcelona,” they continue to claim, before reporting that no new bid had been made at this stage.
However, they also write that “the club remain adamant he is not for sale,” with Coutinho having signed a new five-year contract to become the Reds’ highest earner back in January.
Neymar’s sale has given Barcelona considerable funds to pursue a replacement, as well as further reinforcements, with Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Paulo Dybala also mooted as targets.
Coutinho was left out of Liverpool’s final pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, but only missed the 3-1 win due to a back problem.
He is likely to come back into the fold for this weekend’s Premier League opener away to Watford, and should be included in Klopp’s 25-man squad for their Champions League play-off against Hoffenheim.
The German is required to submit his selection for the two-legged tie by midnight on August 7, as the Reds bid to return to Europe’s elite.
Whether Liverpool’s success against Julian Nagelsmann’s side will sway Coutinho’s stance is unclear, but if Sky Sports are to be believed, a move to Barcelona is inevitable, if not this summer.
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