Barcelona ready to bid for Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho in January

Oscar Grau, Barcelona's chief executive, says the Catalan club can resume their pursuit of Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho has made six appearances so far this season, scoring three times (Getty Images)

Barcelona are ready to bid for Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho again once the transfer window re-opens in January, according to the club’s chief executive.

Liverpool rejected three offers worth up to £114m from Barcelona for Coutinho, who also handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through a move to Catalonia.

The Merseyside club stood firm, turning down the Brazilian’s request and repeatedly insisting that he would not be sold at any price.

Coutinho has since been reintegrated into Jürgen Klopp’s squad and has shown little sign of frustration at not being allowed to leave Anfield, scoring in each of his last three outings.

However, Barcelona chief executive Oscar Grau revealed on Wednesday that the Catalan club is ready to resume their pursuit of the 25-year-old, though players may need to be leave the Nou Camp first.

“We are ready to buy Coutinho in the winter market, or any player the technical staff request,” he said. “But it is important to adjust ourselves, so if there are to be arrivals, there must be exits as well.”

Barcelona’s pursuit of Coutinho escalated after Paris Saint-Germain finalised the world-record breaking €222m (£198m) signing of Neymar, activating a release clause in the forward’s contract to take him from the Nou Camp.

The Catalan club ultimately replaced Neymar by completing a €105m (£97m) move for Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele yet still could not persuade Liverpool to part with Coutinho.

“We must forget about the price paid for Neymar last summer,” Grau said. “After taxes we received about €188m in income and a direct financial impact on the club's treasury of €144m.”

After missing out on Coutinho, Barcelona’s sporting director Albert Soler claimed that the club had decided against a move for the player after Liverpool had ultimately demanded €200m (£183m).

Liverpool, however, strongly denied this version of events and insisted that their definitive stance that Coutinho would end the summer transfer window at Anfield had never changed.

Coutinho himself was philosophical about the breakdown of the move, admitting his head was turned but promising to give his all for Liverpool.

"What happened was a job offer and, in life, sometimes you get interested, sometimes you don't. And in my case, everyone knows I got interested, my family too," he said.

"It is great to receive an offer from such a club like that, but it is also a great honour being here. Liverpool is a great club worldwide. I'm here and I will give my best as always."​