But the Spanish club will have to offer about £133million for the Reds to even consider letting their star man leave Anfield.

It is now up to Barcelona to prove they are ready to follow through on their intent to sign the Liverpool midfielder with a new bid.

Coutinho is a doubt for Friday’s FA Cup third-round clash with Everton after also sitting out their New Year’s Day win over Burnley with what manager Jurgen Klopp says is a thigh injury. But he may never don the No10 shirt for the Reds again if he gets his way and Barcelona secure a deal.

Liverpool’s summer stance that Coutinho was not for sale at any price appears to have significantly softened in recent weeks and that is why the player believes he may get his move away.

Both the club and Klopp have stopped short of saying he will definitely be at Anfield on February 1 when the window closes.

That is in stark contrast to the approach in the summer when Fenway Sports Group, the club’s owners, made it clear he would not be sold at any price even after the player handed in a transfer request.

Coutinho’s advisors have been trying to convince the Reds’ hierarchy to give a green light to a move to Spain since the summer window.

Although Liverpool have not named a price, it is understood that it would take a huge offer way in excess of the third £118m bid that was rejected in the summer for any negotiations to start.

That deal included £36m in the way of incentives, such as the Brazilian winning the Balon d’Or and Liverpool were not interested in the way that package was put together.

Reports in Spain suggest Barcelona are ready to make a fourth bid of about £133m but as of last night the Reds have yet to receive a fresh offer.

Barcelona have not stopped some of their star players talking about Philippe Coutinho while their kit manufacturers Nike made a blunder by advertising shirts in his name this week online.

There now seems three ways this transfer will play out with Coutinho being at Anfield beyond this summer the unlikeliest.

The other two is that Barcelona secure an immediate transfer in the coming days with the other option that a deal is agreed for the player to move to Spain in the summer.

Coutinho – although injured – fears if he plays again this month then it could scupper his dream move and he also missed the start of the season with a back problem when Barcelona were in pursuit.

The Brazilian, who Liverpool bought from Inter Milan for £8.3m in 2013, has been given confidence by Liverpool boss Klopp refusing to rule out a move.

But he signed a five-year deal just 12 months ago with no release clause which still gives Liverpool an upper hand in any negotiations that may take place.