Real have been far from their best this season and currently sit fourth, a whopping 14 points adrift of Ernesto Valverde's side.

And that deficit was opened up in part thanks to Barca's resounding 3-0 win at the Bernabeu just before Christmas.

Barcelona have taken the opportunity presented by the January transfer window to strengthen their squad by agreeing to pay Liverpool £142m for Coutinho.

The latest reports from Spain suggest Barcelona's signing of the playmaker has reverberated around Real, with Perez particularly shaken.

According to Diario Gol, Real chief Perez is "trembling" at the thought of his team facing Barcelona with Coutinho and potentially Antoine Griezmann among their ranks.

Valverde wants the Atletico Madrid striker to swap the Wanda Metropolitano for the Nou Camp at the end of the season.

And alongside Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele he would form a trio of players purchased for more than £300m in up front costs alone.

Coutinho and Dembele are not the only men Valverde has brought in since succeeding Luis Enrique though.

The Barcelona boss snapped up Paulinho, Nelson Semedo and Gerard Deulofeu too.

Inigo Martinez and Jean Michael Seri could be targeted once again this summer as Barca look to build further.

Express Sport understands Perez has his own plan in mind to revitalise Zinedine Zidane's Real squad.

Real are prepared to offload Gareth Bale, with Manchester United the frontrunners to offer him a fresh start.