Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho close to joining Barcelona for staggering £142 million

Barcelona and Liverpool have agreed on a deal in principle to allow Philippe Coutinho to move to Spanish giants Barcelona. Coutinho’s move is almost final with a transfer amount of 160 million euros (£142 million) in total, 120 million guaranteed and rest will be made up in achievable clauses.

Recently, Coutinho’s agents were seen at Barca’s camp and also the representatives from both the sides were present in Liverpool to settle the deal. There are rumours that the agreement between Liverpool and Barca is close now.

Barcelona-based sports newspaper said Coutinho would join Barca this month on a deal for five seasons, although it said the details of the deal were still to be finalised.

Coutinho’s departure would be a blow to Liverpool, but it would allow Barcelona to move on from the bitter experience of losing his Brazil teammate Neymar last summer to Qatar-backed Paris Saint-Germain for a world record 222 million euros.

Coutinho’s age is 25 is also attractive to Barca, whose three main stars, Lionel, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta are all in their thirties.

French sport daily L’Equipe reported on Saturday that Liverpool was lining up Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez to replace Coutinho, although other reports have indicated that …read more