Philippe Coutinho: Guillem Balague reveals when Barcelona plan to announce signing

That is according to Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert and transfer guru Guillem Balague.

Coutinho is heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in the current transfer window, whereas Liverpool would prefer any deal to happen next summer.

Balague says the clubs are discussing the potential fee for the Brazilian and reckons Liverpool would accept over €150million for him.

Coutinho and Barca are both desperate to get the deal done and the La Liga giants want it confirmed next week, claims Balague.

“I think contracts are being written,” he said.

“The clubs are talking, they’re negotiating a fee and that fee will be around €150m-160m. 

“I think Liverpool will seriously consider of course the sale from €150m, Barcelona in a way are desperate. 

“They have so much pressure from the players, they realise that Coutinho could be such an important figure for them in the near and medium future, that they will be willing to pay over that. 

“So Barcelona will want to announce it next week. 

“The only stumbling block perhaps, I’m not sure how big that will be as a block, is that it will be (Jurgen) Klopp who will decide if he can go now or if he can go in the summer. 

Philippe Coutinho wants to go now, Barcelona wants him to go now and as I said, both clubs are talking about numbers, about the figures in this huge deal.”