Former Liverpool star turned pundit Jason McAteer says he believes the deal for Philippe Coutinho to join Barcelona in the summer is already done, and compares the situation to that of Luis Suarez’s.

Coutinho was a huge target for Barcelona in the summer, and submitted three bid for the Brazilian, all of which were rejected by the Reds. The Catalan club instead decided to buy Dembele from Borussia Dortmund, but that does not mean their pursuit of the Liverpool No.10 is over.

Reports continue to circulate that Coutinho will be subject of an £80m+ bid next summer, and McAteer admits he can see the deal going ahead.

McAteer told beIN Sports: “Do you want me to be completely honest? I think Coutinho will go in the summer. I think it was another Suarez situation. I think it was: ‘Give me [Jurgen Klopp] another season. Just give me one more season.’

“And, at the end of the day, you would feel Coutinho would worry whether Barcelona would come back for him.”

"He will go in the summer." Former @LFC star @McAteer4 thinks @Phil_Coutinho will move to @FCBarcelona at the end of the season. #PL #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/BpeQPqIQp0

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) October 26, 2017