Deal Getting Closer as Philippe Coutinho Agrees Deal to Join Barcelona

Philippe Coutinho has reached an agreement to join Barcelona this summer, according to reports in Spain. Catalan radio station RAC1 report that Barca have stepped up negotiations with the Brazil international this week and an agreement is now in place between the player and the club. Barcelona must now agree a transfer fee with Liverpool and Mundo Deportivo claims that representatives from the Spanish club are in England for talks.

Barcelona have already had a bid of €80 million (£72m) rejected by Liverpool but an improved offer will be made. Reports in Spain claim that Barcelona’s move for Coutinho is partly motivated by their desire to prevent Neymar from joining Paris Saint-Germain.

Neymar is said to be unhappy with the lack of Brazilian influence in the dressing room at Camp Nou and Barcelona are looking to amend this with the arrival of the 25-year-old from Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp, however, insists that the midfielder will not be sold this summer.

‘The problem with these things is that whatever I say it always leaves a little bit of speculation,’ Klopp told the Liverpool Echo.

‘If I say he is not for selling, he is not for selling. There is nothing else to say. It’s a club decision, it’s my decision. That’s how it is.

‘That is so that we can end the speculation and not talk about anything else.

‘With Suarez I was far away. When the club sold Sterling I was maybe the last to know about it. So those situations have nothing to do with this one.

‘We are approaching a very important moment and we want to get better. For this we have to keep our key players. So that’s the answer.

‘I can sat 20 times, he is not for sale. If you ask the other question the other way and I say, there has been no assurance, you make the story the other way. There is no story for me.

‘Whatever happens from their side, I say he is not for sale. You can say whatever you want. The answer is ‘not for sale’.’

Credit: Metro

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