Barcelona prepare second bid for Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho

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Madrid, August 3: Barcelona are set to lose their star winger Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain on a world record transfer worth £196 million but the Catalan giants tend to waste no time in getting a replacement for the Brazilian superstar.

According to reports from the Spanish media, Barca have found the ideal replacement of Neymar in his compatriot Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool and are preparing a bid worth more than £100 million for the playmaker.

Coutinho has been a longtime target for Barcelona and the Spanish giants have expressed their interest in the Liverpool number ten numerous times over the last few years.

Coutinho, a close friend of Neymar, will have less incentive to move to Camp Nou now, as his best friend is set to leave the club.

Barcelona are under intense pressure to make a statement signing from the supporters to avoid backlash to the loss of Neymar and will go back to Liverpool with an improved offer after a £72 million bid was rejected earlier this summer.

Coutinho's future has been one of the stories of the summer in Spain, frequently appearing on the cover of Catalan dailies, but Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has insisted time and again that his priced asset is not for sale at any price.

Klopp said: "I can understand that Coutinho is so highly rated, but they can save their energy."

Klopp said earlier in the week, when asked if a move for Coutinho would prompt another bid for Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita: "You formulate the question in a strange way.

"Where is the interpretation if you say he (Coutinho) is not available to be sold?

"The word "not" means there is nothing to interpret. It is nothing new from our point of view."

Barcelona also have also set their eyes on Eden Hazard, Dele Alli, Antonie Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele if they fail to seal a deal with Liverpool for Coutinho.