Barcelona are confident they will get Philippe Coutinho this month.
Liverpool resisted all offers for the Brazilian last summer and now face a major fight to keep during the transfer window.
There is a growing feeling in Spain that if the Nou Camp club make an offer in excess of £130million then they will get their man.
Coutinho missed Liverpool’s win at Burnley on New Year’s Day with a thigh strain and reported for treatment on Tuesday.
Brazil star Coutinho is known to want to complete his “dream move” and Liverpool are now facing another transfer saga.
Barcelona made three bids in the summer - the last totalling £114m after add-ons - but will have to break the British record to get their man.
Liverpool know that Coutinho wanted to leave for Barcelona in the summer and doubts over his future were increased when Nike - Barcelona’s kit sponsors - advertised shirts with the Brazilian’s name on them.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp dismissed the story on Monday but the Spanish media are convinced that Barcelona will get the deal done in January.
Coutinho is not expected to be involved in Liverpool’s FA Cup tie with Everton on Friday night and then they have a nine-day gap until they play again in the Premier League.
That will leave Liverpool with time to resolve the situation one way or another but Barcelona are desperate to drive the deal through this month.