Liverpool FC has put a price tag of €180 million on FC Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho - making him the second most valuable player of all time

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Liverpool playmaking midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

• Liverpool FC has reportedly put a price-tag on star midfielder Philippe Coutinho.
• FC Barcelona will have to spend €180 million if it is serious about buying the Brazilian.
• If the transfer goes through, it would make Coutinho the second-most expensive footballer of all time.

If FC Barcelona is serious about buying Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho then it will have to pay Liverpool FC approximately €180 million ($217 million or £160 million).

The Camp Nou club made three offers for Coutinho last summer but Liverpool was resolute despite a closing bid of €130 million ($155 million or £115 million).

Despite Liverpool's stance, the player has remained linked with Barcelona, and the Spanish club is expected to increase its offer now that the mid-season transfer window is open.

According to prominent Spanish journalist Alfredo Martínez, Barcelona will have to raise its fee considerably if it is to meet Liverpool's valuation.

Martínez says Liverpool will likely only sell Coutinho if it receives a fee in the region of €180 million.

If Barcelona matches this figure then Coutinho would become the second most expensive footballer of all time.

Last year, Paris Saint-Germain broke the transfer fee world record when it paid Barcelona €220 million ($265 million or £200 million) for Neymar.