Philippe Coutinho Has Reportedly Played Last Liverpool Game Amid Barca Rumours

Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho has reportedly played his last game for the Reds ahead of a proposed move to Barcelona. 

According to Joaquim Piera of Sport, "Coutinho will not wear Liverpool's No. 10 shirt again," with Barcelona set to swoop for the Brazilian in a deal worth a potential €150 million (£133 million). It's added in the piece that a meeting has been scheduled on Wednesday in an attempt to progress the deal.

"Sport has learned that Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool understand the situation and are preparing for the next games without their star man in their schemes," the report continued. "In Barcelona the players and the fans are waiting for him with open arms."

On Wednesday, Sport (h/t Football Espana) said a deal was "very, very, very close" to happening.

The Selecao Brasileira account provided the front page:

Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague suggested the Blaugrana will make their move soon for the playmaker, with the club and player desperate for a deal to happen:

Balague reported Coutinho will miss Friday's showdown with Everton in the FA Cup. He also sat out the win against Burnley on New Year's Day.

As noted by Paul Joyce of The Times, at Liverpool there is a "refusal to recommit to their stance of the summer, when the player was not for sale at any price." The Reds rejected three offers from Barcelona for Coutinho.

Subsequently, talk of a transfer potentially happening in January has intensified. And if a deal was to go ahead, it would be a blow for Liverpool.

The Brazilian has given the Liverpool supporters many moments to remember since moving to the club in 2013, per Sky Sports Statto:

There aren't many footballers in Europe as exciting to watch as Coutinho at his best, which makes Barcelona's longstanding interest understandable.

Coutinho has a burst of speed, remarkable close control and a range of passes in his arsenal. As the numbers above illustrate, he is dangerous from long range, too.

PAUL ELLIS/Getty Images

Although Liverpool have many excellent attacking players on their books, the qualities noted would be tough to replace, even with a potentially massive fee secured. If Coutinho was to move away from the Reds midseason, you sense they would have to wait until the summer to revamp.

With that in mind, the decision to do a January deal would represent peculiar business by the Reds, as touched upon here by football writer Joel Rabinowitz:

Having dug their heels in this summer to resist interest from the Blaugrana, cashing in on their prized asset in January would make little sense for Liverpool, especially with a top-four chase, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League still to play for in 2017-18.

Still, if Coutinho is as desperate on a move as reported, an offer in the region of £133 million would be tempting, especially after investing a world-record fee for a defender of £75 million into the signing of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton.