As per Spanish publication Sport, Liverpool have named a new £133million asking price for Barcelona target Philipe Coutinho, and they are hoping it scares the Camp Nou outfit away.
Reportedly, the Brazilian agreed to a move months ago as he wants to link up with Neymar, but the Anfield side aren’t willing to let him go for any cost whatsoever.
Barca are insistent on paying £71million at most for the highly-gifted midfielder, and have also suggested adding a player to the offer just to break Liverpool’s resolve.
The financial shortcomings of the Spanish giants are well-documented – an issue that lead to their inability to prize Marco Verratti away from PSG.
Breaking the world record transfer fee for a player is therefore not within the range of Barcelona’s money-spending powers at the moment.
Liverpool’s latest move might have just successfully kept suitors off Coutinho, or at least the club would hope it does so for the rest of the window.
Coutinho remains most integral to boss Jurgen Klopp’s project and Liverpool are ready to give their all in ensuring he remains at Anfield.
