Barcelona confident they have secured a £90million deal for Liverpool ace Philippe Coutinho to replace Neymar

BARCELONA believe they have Philippe Coutinho in the bag.

The Catalan giants are confident of landing the Liverpool playmaker in a £90million deal this week.

Rex Features

Rex Features

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are determined to keep hold of the Brazilian and rejected an opening £72m approach.

But Barca are flush with cash following the £198m sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and are now preparing a fresh five-year deal.

Kop boss Klopp has insisted Coutinho, 25, is not for sale.

The German now faces a battle to keep hold of the 27-cap South American.

The transfer could become the joint second biggest in history and match the £90m deal that Manchester United struck with Everton to sign Romelu Lukaku — of which they paid £75m up front.

Coutinho was absent from the Reds’ 2-1 friendly win over Athletic Bilbao in Dublin on Saturday with a back complaint.

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Rex Features

PA:Press Association

Klopp said: “Phil had back problems so there was no reason for any risks.”

Barca are also closing in on a £90m deal to sign Ousmane Dembele from Dortmund.

The France winger, 20, turned down a move from Rennes last summer because he did not want to sit on the bench.