Coutinho is the La Liga giants' top transfer target and their hopes of wrapping up a deal have been boosted by the Reds' willingness to entertain a deal.

Express Sport revealed last weekend that talks would begin in the following days and they seem to have moved at pace since then.

Last night Catalan newspaper Sport claimed an agreement on Coutinho's price had been reached with Barcelona set to hand over £142m.

And the latest reports from Spain indicate the 25-year-old could leave Liverpool as early as today.

Spanish transfer specialists Don Balon claim "the signing will close in the next few hours".

They reckon Coutinho will cost £142m, with £106m of that fee to be paid up front.

Barcelona are then likely to move on a number of players in order to balance the books.

Outcast Arda Turan, misfit Andre Gomes and injured youth product Rafinha all look set for the chop.

Don Balon suggest there could be surprise departures to facilitate a deal for Coutinho too.

Coutinho's switch from Liverpool could have an impact upon Barcelona's future forays into the transfer market.

Barca may re-think their plans to prise Antoine Griezmann away from Atletico Madrid.

And that's because he'll no longer be available for the comparably cheap £86m previously written into his contract.