Liverpool star Coutinho could join Barcelona this month with the Catalan giants increasingly optimistic over a deal.

Any transfer deal would likely see Ernesto Valverde’s side hold on to win the La Liga title, with Real Madrid currently 14 points behind at the top of the table.

Yet Spanish website Diario Gol have claim Real Madrid have another issue with Barcelona’s pursuit of the Liverpool star.

And that is because club president Florentino Perez reckons the Reds will try to replace Coutinho with Ceballos. 

Ceballos only moved to the Bernabeu from Real Betis back in the summer.

The midfielder, however, has struggled for game time - currently sitting below the likes of Toni Kroos, Matteo Kovacic, Luka Modric and Casemiro in the pecking order.

With the World Cup in Russia on the horizon, Ceballos could move to boost his chances of making Spain’s squad.

And Diario Gol claim Perez reckons Liverpool are best-placed to pounce given uncertainty over Coutinho’s future.

Ceballos himself is reportedly eager to move and the chance to prove himself in the Premier League appeals.

But Perez thinks it would be foolish to sell him, especially at this point in the season.

Whether or not Ceballos gets his way remains to be seen.

The 21-year-old has scored twice from 13 appearances for Real since his move from Betis.

Coutinho, for Liverpool, has bagged 12 from 18 games across all competitions.