Barcelona remain confident that they will be signing Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool in January.

Sources in Catalunya have told me that the club’s hierarchy believe that the deal is almost done, for around £140million.

Coutinho tried to force through a move to Barca in the summer, who had a number of bids rejected by Liverpool – who insisted he was not for sale.

Football INDEX Watch – Philippe Coutinho – Over £5 and currently 6th on the Index

Liverpool are braced for more interest this January and the Brazilian maestro, who has been in superb form of late and was handed the captain’s armband for their demolition of Spartak Moscow in the Champions League, is still keen to make the move to the Nou Camp.

“I do not know how the future is going to be. What will happen in January, we will know it in January. I do not know if there will be an offer,” Coutinho said this week.

“Last summer there was a job offer in the same way that happens with any employee and I was interested in it. Since I stayed I have played with will and desire.

“Of course a lot happened in the summer but my will is always to play and do the best wherever I am – that has not changed.

“I am here (at Liverpool), we have a lot of games and I try to do my best to help.”

We understand that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will have the final say on whether Coutinho is allowed to leave, and the club’s CEO Peter Moore admits he does not know what will happen in the New Year.

“As far as I’m concerned, the squad we have right now is the squad that we’re going to have going into January,” Moore told Sky Sports.

“I don’t have a crystal ball, I don’t know what is going to happen, but Philippe Coutinho is a dedicated, intense Liverpool player right now and he is delivering.”

Bookmakers still believe that Coutinho is staying put and he is still rated at 1/9 to remain – that is a 90% probability that he will be remaining. Paddy Power make it 4/1 he moves.

PaddyPower spokesman Lee Price commented: “Coutinho looks like he’ll continue at Liverpool, as the odds on him leaving in January are getting more and more distant.

“Great news, Liverpool fans! What’s that? Next summer? Nah, why would they worry about that…”