Barcelona have reportedly set their sights upon Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho after their failed attempt at signing Marco Verratti from PSG.
According to a report by Don Balon, Barcelona are keen on a deal for Philippe Coutinho and are willing to pay €80 million for the Brazilian midfielder after failing to sign Marco Verratti.
Coutinho’s career has skyrocketed ever since he joined Liverpool from Inter Milan back in 2013. The 24-year-old has secured a spot for himself in Liverpool and established himself as an indispensable member of the squad. Gradually, he has gone on to become one of the best players in the Premier League.
The young Brazilian played 34 games across all competitions for the Reds last season, scoring 11 goals while also providing 8 assists. He has also become a regular in the Brazil national team and is rightly a highly sought after player this transfer season.
Although several clubs are keen, it is believed that Barcelona are the front-runners. The Catalan giants have focused their attention on reinforcing the midfield this summer and Coutinho is one of their priority targets.
Last season, Andres Iniesta was yet again one of the most influential players for Barcelona but age is catching up to him and a younger alternative is an issue that the club needs to address in the midfield.
Meanwhile, Ivan Rakitic is also experiencing a decline in his form. Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes have been struggling to settle at Camp Nou, so Coutinho does seem like the best option for them.
However, it is understood that Liverpool are demanding a staggering €100 million for Coutinho but Barcelona are only willing to pay €80 million. The Merseyside club would not be too happy about the transfer since Jurgen Klopp has his own battles to fight.
It remains to be seen if Barcelona give in and match Liverpool’s asking price or if the Reds succeed in retaining one of their top players. After failing to land a deal for Verratti, it seems unlikely that Barcelona will let a chance slip by to sign of the best midfielders in the Premier League right now.
It remains to be seen if Coutinho is the better player to fit Barcelona’s requirements as compared to Verratti. Meanwhile, whether or not the La Liga runners-up are willing to splash the cash is something we all have to wait and watch out for.
