Liverpool transfer news: Coutinho agrees Barcelona move, asks Klopp to let him go - report

PHILIPPE COUTINHO is trying to persuade Jurgen Klopp to let him join Barcelona, it has sensationally been claimed in Spain this afternoon.

Philippe Coutinho scores a screamer against Leicester

Barca have today conceded Neymar is on his way and they want Coutinho to replace him.

Respected Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo are reporting that Barcelona have already agreed personal terms with the player.

Klopp doesn't want Coutinho to go but it’s claimed the Brazilian is trying to convince him to change his mind.

The Liverpool boss has publicly insisted Coutinho is not for sale. The club rejected a £72million bid for the Brazil international but that does not appear to have deterred the La Liga giants.

Liverpool transfer news Philippe CoutinhoGETTY

Liverpool transfer news: Philippe Coutinho has apparently asked Jurgen Klopp to let him join Barca

Philippe CoutinhoGETTY

Philippe Coutinho is wanted by Barcelona to replace Neymar

Barcelona have a hole to fill with Neymar on his way and they have identified the Reds playmaker as the ideal replacement.

Klopp said earlier this week: "If you say he is not available to be sold, where is the interpretation?

"The word 'not' means there is no interpretation. There is nothing new."

South American football expert Tim Vickery thinks the move is o the cards, though.

NeymarGETTY

Transfer News: Neymar is set to leave Barcelona to join PSG

Asked if Coutinho is the best replacement for Neymar, Vickery told Sky Sports: "Absolutely.

"When Barcelona were interested in Coutinho previously I saw speculation suggesting they saw him as a possible replacement for Andres Iniesta.

"I have never seen that. I have always seen Coutinho as a Neymar replacement.

"Coutinho's problem with the Brazil national team is his favourite position is Neymar's position, wide on the left cutting onto his right foot.

"They have since found space for him on the right but that's his favoured position."

WHY DO BARCELONA WANT PHILIPPE COUTINHO?

It’s all down to Neymar, who appears on the verge of becoming the most expensive player in football history after informing Barcelona of his desire to leave.

He’s set to go for a mammoth £196million after they triggered his release clause.

Here, Express Sport looks at the previous players to have broken the record in the last two decades.

Alan Shearer - 1996: £15million (Blackburn to Newcastle)

Having won the Premier League at Blackburn in 1995, all-time Premier League record goalscorer Shearer returned to his hometown club a hero.

Ronaldo - 1997: £19.5million (Barcelona to Inter Milan)

The Brazil striker moved on to break the record for the second time in a year but, despite a great scoring ratio, he only won the UEFA Cup during his spell at the San Siro.

Denilson - 1998: £21.5million (Sao Paulo to Real Betis)

A precocious talent in Brazil, Denilson never made the desired impact after his record move and struggled to hold down a place at Betis before moving on.

Christian Vieri - 1999: £32million (Lazio to Inter Milan)

Eight clubs in as many seasons eventually led Vieri to Inter, where they broke the transfer record once again and he would form a formidable partnership with Ronaldo.

Hernan Crespo - 2000: £35.5million (Parma to Lazio)

A year later, Lazio replaced Vieri with Crespo and he ended his first season with the club as Serie A's top goalscorer.

Luis Figo - 2000: £37million (Barcelona to Real Madrid)

The era of the Galacticos truly began with the acrimonious transfer of Portugal winger Figo between the Clasico rivals.

Zinedine Zidane - 2001: £46.6million (Juventus to Real Madrid)

Madrid continued to build their team of superstars by adding France international Zidane from Juventus - and he went on to become coach at the Bernabeu.

Kaka - 2009: £56million (AC Milan to Real Madrid)

Breaking their own record once again, Kaka's move from Italy was not as successful as Madrid would have hoped but he still lifted a LaLiga title before returning to Milan in 2013.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 2009: £80million (Manchester United to Real Madrid)

Having coveted Ronaldo for a couple of years, Madrid upped their record significantly to land the 2008 Ballon d'Or winner - and the Portuguese went from strength to strength in Spain.

Gareth Bale - 2013: £86million (Tottenham to Real Madrid)

A fifth-straight record broken by Madrid as they returned to England to poach the Premier League's hottest talent - this time taking Wales international Bale to Spain, where he would flourish.

Paul Pogba - 2016: £89million (Juventus to Manchester United)

Having left Old Trafford four years earlier for a nominal amount, France midfielder Pogba returned as the new world-record signing.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?