Liverpool’s owners wanted to loan back Philippe Coutinho after his sale to Barcelona.
Coutinho will be officially unveiled as the Catalans’ latest signing on Monday after the Reds agreed a deal worth £142 million for their coveted playmaker.
But the Anfield hierarchy reportedly attempted to keep hold of the Brazil international until the end of this season as part of their negotiations with Barca.
The Daily Mail have claimed that Fenway Sports Group put the request to their countparts at the Nou Camp due to his ineligibility in the Champions League.
Both Liverpool and Barcelona have reached the knock-out stage of Europe’s elite club competition, making Coutinho cup-tied for the latter in the tournament.
However the La Liga leaders rejected any possibility of the 25-year-old remaining on Merseyside once a successful deal was struck between the clubs.
It has also been alleged that Real Madrid made a last-ditch bid to sign Coutinho.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the reigning European champions were prepared to offer £177m to prise the former Inter Milan player away from Barca’s clutches.
But Coutinho’s long-standing desire to return to Catalonia, where he previously spent a half-season on loan at Espanyol during the 2011/12 season.