Barcelona transfer news: Liverpool agree to sell Philippe Coutinho NEXT summer – report

Barcelona have until midnight to secure a deal for the Brazilian and are ready to break the bank to sign him with a fee of £148million mooted.

Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp have insisted he is not for sale but Spanish publication Sport claim they have now had a change of heart and are set to cash in on him.

The report claims Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have agreed to let Coutinho seal his dream move to the Nou Camp but he will have to wait a season to move there.

Similar to Liverpool’s deal for Naby Keita, Barca are expected to reach an agreement for Coutinho to join next summer.

Liverpool paid £48million for the RB Leipzig star to become a Reds player earlier this week, but he will officially move to Anfield on July 1, 2018.

SPORT claim Coutinho and his agents are fully aware a move to Barca this season is unrealistic following a turbulent 24 hours at Anfield on deadline day.

Liverpool completed the signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal but failed to pull off a deal for Thomas Lemar.

The Reds showed a strong interest in the Monaco winger but the 21-year-old decided against leaving the Ligue 1 champions.

Arsenal made a £92m bid for Lemar but the Frenchman’s preference was to join Liverpool. 

However, the Merseyside outfit were reluctant to match that price.

Liverpool’s decision not to sign Lemar now means the Reds can’t afford to let Coutinho leave with a busy season ahead, that includes their return to the Champions League.

But it looks like the former Espanyol loanee’s desire to return to La Liga will come true, just not this summer.