Coutinho could be a Barcelona player by the beginning of January
Barça will pay 150 million euros in installments
There was a meeting with his agents on Tuesday
Barcelona are preparing for more Philippe Coutinho negotiations. Since August, the club have been waiting for a transfer which they hope will go through in January. It would be the best present Ernesto Valverde could receive for Three Kings, because that's when the club want the player in by.
Albert Masnou/Joaquim Piera
Coutinho: tic, tac, tic, tac
Recent days have been key. On Tuesday, the player's agents left Barcelona meeting with the club to clarify aspects of the deal. The agents and Barça have worked in unison to ensure that talks which began in August end up becoming a reality in 2018.
The agreement with the player was practically a reality. He will sign a contract worth 12 million euros per year over five seasons. The meeting this week served to finalise the terms agreed in the summer. At the same time, the player's agents put an agreement on the table reached with the Fenway Group, Liverpool's owners, who will sell for 150 million euros. Liverpool will not move from there at the moment.
So, the player has a price, something which didn't happen in the summer when Liverpool refused to negotiate. Since then, Liverpool have been looking for options to replace Coutinho, who has been key in recent weeks after a slow start to the season due to an injury.
With the price confirmed, Barça gave the agents the green light as long as Liverpool accept the payment in installments.
The agents left the Catalan city satisfied with the meeting, which was with Josep Maria Bartomeu, who is in charge of managing the most expensive signing in the club's history. Barça must design the payment schedule they wish to propose, which will begin in January, they hope.
Coutinho could arrive by Three Kings on Jan. 6. It would be a great present for the fans, who are aware of the need for a player with the Brazilian's qualities.