£120m bid to send shockwaves through Liverpool… contradicts recent report

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Liverpool’s stern insistence that Philippe Coutinho will not be sold this summer looks set to be put to the test once again by Barcelona.

The Catalan giants now have around €220million to dispose of after the sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain and are expected to step up their pursuit of a replacement for the Brazilian.

An opening bid of £72million was recently rejected by the Reds and followed by regular reminders from Jurgen Klopp that the No.10 will not be allowed to leave under any circumstances between now and the end of the transfer window.

Barcelona are now, however, set to return with a bid of £120million for the playmaker, according to the Star on Sunday.

This follows recent reports that have suggested the La Liga side have ended interest in Coutinho as their first choice target and instead turned their attentions towards Juventus star Paulo Dybala.

Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembélé has also been identified as a key target for the Spanish club, as has Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.

Coutinho, who signed a new five-year deal at Anfield in January, will be expected to forget any ambitions he may have to play for Barcelona for the time being and instead focus on what promises to be a big season at Liverpool.

The 25-year-old has been a standout figure under Klopp this pre-season but missed Saturday’s win over Athletic Bilbao in Dublin due to a slight knock.

He is, though, likely to be fit in time for next Saturday’s opening game of the Premier League campaign away to Watford.

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