Barcelona 'keen to avoid paying extra £17m to Liverpool for Philippe Coutinho'

Barcelona are reportedly eager to avoid paying Liverpool a £17m instalment for Philippe Coutinho.

While the Brazilian left Anfield for a big-money fee in January 2018, the agreement included a number of criteria which needed to be fulfilled in order for Liverpool to receive the full fee.

According to Marca, the Merseyside giants are due £17m if the playmaker reaches 100 appearances for the La Liga outfit in all competitions.

However, at a time when they are under pressure to balance the books, club officials are against Coutinho making the 24 outings which would activate that clause.

With Coutinho also commanding £12m-per-year wages, it leaves Barcelona under pressure to find a buyer for the 27-year-old, something which is yet to materialise due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bayern Munich allegedly have no intention of signing their current loanee on a permanent deal later in 2020.