Liverpool will not sell Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona - Guillem Balague

LIVERPOOL are in the driving seat over Philippe Coutinho's future because Barcelona were not prepared for Neymar's departure, according to Sky Sports pundit Guillem Balague.

22:07, Thu, Aug 10, 2017 | UPDATED: 22:07, Thu, Aug 10, 2017

Liverpool Transfer News Barcelona Philippe Coutinho Ousmane Dembele Jurgen Klopp Balague GETTY

Philippe Coutinho has had a second Barcelona bid of £90m knocked back by Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has knocked back a second bid of £90m from Barcelona for their Brazilian star and insisted he is not for sale.

Barcelona were left stunned after Neymar packed up and left for Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record £200m deal earlier this month.

They now face a race against the clock to secure a world-class replacement with Coutinho heading that list.

If Neymar had not left, Coutinho would not even be on their list according to Balague.

He said: "Coutinho wouldn't have been a target for Barcelona if Neymar had stayed.

Sublime assist shows why Barcelona want Liverpool's Coutinho

"Coutinho's people have told Barcelona for months he's happy to move, but Barcelona did not consider him a priority - they felt that, if the Brazilian had stayed, they needed more a centre midfielder and a winger.

"Barcelona are in limbo and are starting to believe that Liverpool won't sell.

"And that is bad news for the board - losing Neymar and not finding a suitable replacement makes things complicated for president Josep Maria Bertomeu who is under a lot of pressure."

The 25-year-old was Liverpool's top goalscorer last season with 14 and the Catalan club believe he is the right man to replace Neymar.

Barcelona are in limbo and are starting to believe that Liverpool won't sell
Sky Sports pundit Guillem Balague

But they have also kept tabs on Dortmund star Ousmane Dembele.

A bid has been made but the German club have also taken a firm stance and told Ernesto Valverde's club that he is going nowhere.

Dortmund have since suspended the Frenchman after he failed to turn up to training.

Balague added: "They believe Dembele is the more likely deal - but Borussia have rejected their first offer and they are going to have to spend a lot of money to get him."