Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to go head to head over the signature of Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

The Brazil international was keen to join the Catalans back in the summer and handed a transfer request to push through a move.

The Reds rejected three consecutive offers for the 25-year-old playmaker, however, the biggest of which totalled £114m as they repeatedly turned down the chance to cash in.

Reports in the Mundo Deportivo suggests Real Madrid are the latest club to join the race and have already made a contact with the player’s representatives, but the Los Blancos will not move until the end of the season which could provide the league rivals Barcelona a head-start.

An earlier report suggested that the Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain have reignited their interest in Coutinho, meanwhile, with the Merseyside outfit understood to be more willing to offload at the end of the season when given a chance to bring in talented replacements.

Coutinho has scored twice in four league appearances so far this season.