Liverpool demand £100million up front in cash for Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho
Brazilian looks set to be on his way to the Nou Camp but the Anfield club are ready to make them spend big if they want him
LIVERPOOL are ready to demand £100million up front in CASH for Philippe Coutinho.
The Kop club want Barcelona to pay £134m in total to grant rant the 25-year-old Brazilian’s wish and let him go to the Nou Camp.
If boss Jurgen Klopp has his way, that will not be until the summer, by which time he will have sorted Coutinho’s replacement with Schalke’s Leon Goretzka his No 1 target.
Goretzka, 22, will be a free agent at the end of the season and has already hinted he wants to work with his fellow German at Anfield.
The midfielder is also wanted by Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich but reports of a deal already being done have been dismissed by Goretzka's agent.
Liverpool are expecting a new, formal offer any day from Barca while Coutinho’s people are in constant discussions with the Catalan giants.
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Meanwhile, New Year’s Day hero Ragnar Klavan has welcomed the arrival of £75m Virgil van Dijk — even though it could cost him his place at Anfield.
Klavan, who scored the winner at Burnley, said: "He is a good addition to our team.
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"It is like it is for everyone: there is competition and competition is good for all places."
Kop development coach Pep Lijnders has quit to become head coach of NEC Nijmegen.