Barcelona and Liverpool have scheduled crucial transfer talks over Philippe Coutinho for the start of January as the Catalan club try to wrap up a deal quickly, according to reports.
The Liga leaders trailed Coutinho for much of the summer, with the Brazilian desperate to fill the void left by Neymar, though Liverpool refused to sell their star man.
He has been in exceptional form since returning to the side this season, and Spanish newspaper Sport claim Barca are finally nearing an agreement for a January transfer.
According to the report, Barca will look to get a deal done as early as possible in the January transfer window to avoid another deadline day disappointment, as happened in the summer.
Coutinho’s agent will arrive in Europe for a meeting scheduled for Wednesday 3 January in which the move could be given the green light by both clubs.
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Barca have been negotiating with Coutinho’s agent for months, as well as Liverpool, and believe they have tentatively agreed on a £124m fee – paid in instalments – that will be enough to seal the deal.
But if Liverpool pull back from the deal, Barca have no intention of being strung a long and will look elsewhere if a deal cannot be completed in the first few days of the window.
Another Spanish publication, Marca, have listed the alternatives as Lyon playmaker Nabil Fekir, Arsenal contract rebel Mesut Ozil, Gremio star Arthur and former Chelsea midfielder Oscar, who now plays for Shanghai SIPG.
Although Coutinho’s departure would be a huge blow for Liverpool, they are blessed with a plethora of attacking options and may already have spent some of the massive transfer fee they could receive on Virgil van Dijk, whose £75m switch makes him the world’s most expensive defender.
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