Barcelona reportedly agree terms with €118 million star
What’s the story?
Barcelona are currently on top of the league table and are doing well in the Champions League as well. But Ernesto Valverde is not satisfied.
The manager is keen on adding fresh faces to the squad in January and is constantly in talks with the board to sign the players he wants. Reports in the Daily Star claim that he has got his first target signed and sealed.
The Engl.ish publication reports that Philippe Coutinho has agreed terms for a move to Camp Nou in January. The Catalan side are 'in talks' with Liverpool and have reportedly submitted a €118 million bid.
In case you didn’t know...
Barcelona tried to sign Coutinho in the summer as well. They were keen on getting the Brazilian as a replacement for Neymar but Liverpool were reluctant to sell. The playmaker handed in a transfer request to the club to try and force a move to Camp Nou but was not able to convince them to let him go.
The heart of the matter
Spanish publication, SPORT have also reported the rumour and have said that the contract is the same as the one they agreed in the summer.
Liverpool are contemplating the bid and are reportedly more interested in the sale now. The Brazilian has done well whenever he has been called on by Jurgen Klopp but the manager still feels that his heart is not set in the game and it's better to cash-in now than later.
The downside for Barcelona, even if Liverpool agree to sell him, is that they cannot play him in the UEFA Champions League as he is already cup-tied.
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Author’s Take
From the looks of things, Barcelona are finally getting their man! The Brazilian can be the key figure in the Catalan side's mission to win back the league title and the fact that he will have to play just one match a week makes it better for them.