Operation Coutinho 2.0

The Liverpool playmaker has made the headlines in both the main sport publications in Barcelona, 'Mundo Deportivo' and 'Sport'. Both publications confirm that Coutinho is Barca's No 1 transfer target for January, just like he was during last summer, and the Catalan giants are determined to get their man this time around.

'Mundo Deportivo' report that Liverpool have placed a price tag of around 150 million euros on their Brazilian playmaker, of which Barcelona are fully aware, and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu is charged with trying to get that price down.

The reason they failed to land their man during the summer window was because the Premier League side were playing hardball in their negotiations, but the Reds will reportedly be more willing to negotiate during January, and Barcelona are set to take full advantage.

Additionally, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is reportedly no longer totally against letting his star player leave Anfield. He is supposedly fed up with all the rumours surrounding the player, and understands he can use the funds received from the sale to re-invest back into his squad. 

The 25-year-old made his desires clear in the summer: he wanted a move to Barcelona. His wishes weren't fulfilled and he duly knuckled down and decided to give everything for Liverpool on the pitch, but he still wants to secure his dream move.

The current La Liga leaders are keen to reinforce ahead of what will be a testing second half to the campaign as they want to keep fighting on all fronts, with Coutinho their main target.

'Sport' claim that Barcelona are willing to meet the price tag for Coutinho, but his wage demands of 14 million euros per season, which would see him as the second highest paid player at the club, would mean that they will have to prepare for some departures, and number 1 on that list is Arda Turan.

While the finer details of any potential move are still up in the air, what is clear is that the story between Philippe Coutinho and Barcelona is far from over.