Barcelona have been dealt a huge blow in their bid to sign Philippe Coutinho after it emerged there is no release clause in his Liverpool contract.
Coutinho emerged as a target for the reigning Spanish champions earlier this week with a view to a potential move to the Nou Camp next summer.
According to Catalan newspaper Sport, Barcelona are keen to use Neymar’s good relationship with the playmaker for Brazil to convince him to follow suit.
His visit to see former Reds team mate Luis Suarez before Barcelona’s Champions League clash with Manchester City further intensified that link.
Neymar stoked the fires by hailing Coutinho ‘a joy’ and claiming that the pair were ‘made to play’ together more than they currently do for Brazil.
But the Times claim that Liverpool’s efforts to retain Coutinho’s services are strengthened by the fact that his current deal has no minimum release fee.
It means Anfield officials will not see their hand easily forced on the player’s future, as proved the case with Suarez’s £75 million clause in summer 2014.
Should fresh offers arrive for Coutinho, owners Fenway Sports Group would allow manager Jurgen Klopp to take the lead in their approach.
Paris Saint-Germain previously failed in their efforts to land him with a £30 million bid last summer which was rejected outright by Liverpool.
Liverpool retain a good relationship with his agent Kia Joorabchian, who also represents the club’s other Brazilian players Lucas Leiva and Allan Rodrigues de Souza.