Daily contact as Barça hope to make Coutinho club record signing
Barcelona feel steps taken by Liverpool are good news for them
Van Dijk and Keita could be signs that Coutinho will leave
The signing of Philippe Coutinho advances every day, with the operation gathering pace through daily contact between the player's agents with Barcelona and Liverpool.
It's a slow-burner but from Barcelona and Coutinho's point of view, the steps being taken by Liverpool have been interpreted as good news.
Liverpool have signed Virgil van Dijk for 85 million euros this week. The centre-back joins from Southampton and becomes the most expensive defender ever, knocking Kyle Walker off the perch.
It could be seen as Liverpool preparing and strengthening for a future without Coutinho. At the same time, it's a way of spending the money they will receive from Barça.
In addition, the Premier League side have midfielder Naby Keita coming in January from RB Leipzig. And rumours even suggest they could try and bring his arrival forward to January.
Keita will cost 54 million euros and if you add that fee to van Dijk's fee, you get the amount that Barça will pay for Coutinho.
Barça continue to work on making the 25-year-old Brazilian playmaker their most expensive ever player.
