Barcelona Reportedly Prep €120M Philippe Coutinho Bid as Neymar to PSG Nears

Barcelona are reportedly ready to offer Liverpool €120 million (£107.3 million) in order to sign Philippe Coutinho just as Neymar looks set to join Paris Saint-Germain.

MailOnline's James Dutton wrote that Barca are preparing a new bid for Coutinho after Neymar took a substantial step toward completing a world-record €222 million (£198 million) move to PSG on Wednesday.

The Blaugrana already saw a £72 million offer for Coutinho turned down earlier this summer, per Dutton, who also provided quotes from Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, who said of Barca's pursuit: "I can understand that Coutinho is so highly rated, but they can save their energy."

It's likely Barcelona will pursue a world-class replacement if Neymar leaves for the Parc des Princes as expected, and ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan highlighted Coutinho as one of the likely contenders for the role:

The Anfield icon matches up as a like-for-like successor to Neymar, given he's most effective coming in from the left flank and boasts no small acumen of Brazilian flair, a void Barca will need to fill following Neymar's departure.

Jason Pettigrove of Madrid-based newspaper Marca does not believe the Camp Nou supporters would be content with Coutinho as a replacement, however:

New Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has inherited the club's helm at a difficult juncture, and recruiting a player of the same quality or possessing the same potential as Neymar will seem an impossible task.

News of Barca's interest in Coutinho will remind the Liverpool faithful of their drive to recruit Luis Suarez in the summer of 2014, although his €80 million transfer fee now pales in comparison to the numbers linked with Coutinho's exit.

The Reds sold Suarez for what was then considered big money and attempted to rebuild the squad, but they've since failed to win any silverware and may be more convinced to hold on to their star man this time around.

Barca's renewed bid may be difficult for player and club to turn down, but the Blaugrana's willingness to increase their offer shows how serious they're becoming in their hunt as Neymar edges closer to a Camp Nou exit.