Liverpool Transfer News: Philippe Coutinho Contract Offer Amid Barcelona Rumours

Liverpool reportedly fear Philippe Coutinho wants a move to Barcelona and are looking to prevent the switch by offering him a new contract.

He signed renewed terms to 2020 in February 2015, and his stock has continued to rise at Anfield because of his consistently excellent performances.

According to Sport's Lluis Miguelsanz, the Brazilian playmaker "would like to play in Barcelona" and his agents, Kia Joorabchian and Giuliano Bertolucci, "sounded out" a potential move for the Brazilian to the Camp Nou last year.

Miguelsanz added that Barca did not feel Coutinho was a priority signing—and they were unhappy with his price tag—and now Liverpool have offered him a new contract in an attempt to secure his future at the club.

Coutinho, 24, has been a huge asset for Liverpool since he moved to Merseyside from Inter Milan in 2013 for just £8.5 million.

He has played a key role as Jurgen Klopp's Reds have started 2016-17 in fine fashion, netting four goals and providing four assists in 10 Premier League appearances, per WhoScored.com.

Along with Sadio Mane, Coutinho has arguably been Liverpool's best player of the new campaign:

There is no way Liverpool would want to see him leave the club, but Miguelsanz also reported Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in signing him—although Los Blancos are serving a FIFA transfer ban.

The likelihood of Coutinho wanting to leave Anfield is sure to decrease if Liverpool continue to compete at the top of the Premier League.

Last season, they finished a lowly eighth in the English top flight. A similar result in 2016-17 would surely see Coutinho seek a move to a club where he could compete for the league title and play in the Champions League. 

But manager Klopp has got his side playing some brilliant football, and if that continues, then Coutinho could well decide he is at the right club. 

The lure of Barcelona is likely tempting, though, and Coutinho's Brazil team-mate Neymar previously said he could fit in well at the Camp Nou, per Sky Sports. 

The Blaugrana seemingly have no need for another creative attacking player, but they may well find themselves wanting Coutinho in the future. Liverpool would then have to ensure they can persuade him to remain at the club.