Liverpool winning battle to keep Coutinho as Barcelona look elsewhere?

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Barcelona reported to be looking at a number of options to replace PSG-bound Neymar, so is Coutinho staying at Liverpool?

It looks as if Neymar’s world record £198m move to Paris Saint-Germain has taken a step closer, with Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde giving the forward permission not to train and “sort out his future” – reports the BBC.

The 25-year-old is also believed to have told his teammates he wants to leave the club, which in turn could have a knock-on effect that will not please Liverpool fans.

Neymar of Barcelona reacts during their International Champions Cup 2017 match against Real Madrid.

That is because the Express reports that Philippe Coutinho is the favourite to replace Neymar at the Camp Nou, with Barca having already had a £72m bid rejected for the Brazilian as Jurgen Klopp told the BBC the midfielder is “not for sale”.

This hard stance from the Reds may be working as well, because numerous reports linking the Catalans with alternatives to Coutinho have started to emerge.

In fact Spanish publication Cadena Ser claims that Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann is now first choice on the list of replacements, with the France international having an £89.5m release clause.

Meanwhile, the Independent says that Borussia Dortmund youngster Ousmane Dembele and Paulo Dybala of Juventus are also being considered as alternatives, as the Spanish giants grow increasingly tiresome of the speculation surrounding Neymar.

Finally, according to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are also being swayed by a possible part-exchange deal involving a current PSG player, with their favourite option being Angel Di Maria.

All of this will be greeted as music to the ears at Anfield, with it making it increasingly likely the Premier League club will retain the services of Coutinho.

Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool during the pre-season friendly match against Wigan Athletic.