Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona has agreed a whopping $178 million fee for Liverpool attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho according to Spanish media outlet Sport.
Based on the report, the Brazilian will join the Catalan club when the transfer window opens next month.
The former Inter Milan player is said to earn around $14.2 million over the course of five years when he signs his contract with Barcelona.
Coutinho has been a crucial part of the Liverpool squad since his arrival in 2013. The Merseyside club bought the number ten for just $10.7 million and it proved to be a huge bargain as the ‘Little Magician’ went on to score 52 goals and assist 45 during his five-year stay at the club, Sportskeeda.com wrote.
Barcelona emerged as suitors for Coutinho in the last summer transfer window and made it clear that the 25-year-old was their main transfer target. However, the Blaugrana was not able to get a deal done for the player as Liverpool stood firm on its stance of not selling its star.
Coutinho has scored 10 goals and assisted seven for Liverpool this season. The attacking midfielder also scored his first ever professional hat-trick in the club’s UEFA Champions League group stage match against Spartak Moscow at Anfield earlier this month.
The La Liga league table leader will be only landing its target after paying an astronomical fee of $178 million to Liverpool.
If the report is true this transfer would make Coutinho, Barcelona’s most expensive buy overtaking 20-year-old winger Ousmane Dembele.
Add new comment
Read our comment policy before posting your viewpoints