Liverpool 'agree £142m deal with Barcelona for Coutinho'

Liverpool have agreed a €160 million (£142m) deal to sell Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona on Saturday according to the Daily Telegraph.

An announcement is expected to be made within hours.

Coutinho is due to fly out to Barcelona later on Saturday evening to finalise terms, with the move including a significant immediate down-payment following by achievable, guaranteed add-ons.

The Brazil star did not play against Everton in the FA Cup on Friday evening as he was ‘injured’ and was later held back from the Liverpool squad, who are heading to Dubai for a few days’ break.

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The deal concludes a long-running transfer saga with the Brazilian international having hoped to move to Barcelona last summer following the world-record sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool refused to sell then with owners Fenway Sports Group taking the unusual step of releasing a statement declaring that the player would not be sold in that transfer window. However, they softened their stance and the move was always on the cards after Liverpool spent a world-record fee for a defender when they signed Virgil van Dijk from Southampton for £75m.

The Coutinho deal is the biggest ever involving a British club and the biggest-ever signing made by Spanish club.