Philippe Coutinho heading to Barcelona in stunning £138million deal from Liverpool with announcement set for 7pm

Liverpool have fought to the last to keep hold of their attacking midfielder.

It appears Philippe Coutinho’s time at Anfield is up with Barcelona expected to wrap up the transfer

Barcelona’s pursuit of Philippe Coutinho has been relentless this summer

But the Catalan giants have finally got their man after a fourth bid of around £138million.

Liverpool had rejected increasing offers from the Nou Camp to take the Brazilian international.

A third offer of £118 million was turned down but the Liverpool’s resolve finally broke yesterday with the player intent on the move from Anfield to the Nou Camp.

SunSport online revealed earlier today how Coutinho was ready to intervene himself in the drawn out saga by appealing directly to manager Jurgen Klopp.

Now it looks like his dream move will become a reality after four-and-a-half seasons at Anfield in which time he made 182 appearances scoring 42 goals.

The deal gives Liverpool a huge profit on a player they bought for £8.5million from Inter Milan.

Liverpool fans may have seen the last of Philippe Coutinho in a red shirt

Jurgen Klopp looks to have lost his star man as Philippe Coutinho edges closer to move to Barcelona.

Coutinho, 25, signed a new five-year deal with Liverpool in January but that was before he was aware of Barca’s interest.

He had emailed a transfer request into Anfield but that was initially ignored.

Coutinho has not played in the opening three games of the new season with manager Klopp citing back problems and illness.

However that did not stop him joining up with the Brazil squad to face Ecuador today.

He has been passed fit to play by his national team’s medical staff.

It is from Brazil’s Port Alegre base that Coutinho had been keeping in touch with movements back in Spain and England.