Former Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy conceded it is ‘nigh-on impossible’ for Philippe Coutinho to stay at Anfield as Barcelona push to sign the Brazilian star.

La Liga giants Barca reportedly had a second bid – in the region of £90-million – for Coutinho rejected by Liverpool, who remain defiant in their stance of keeping the 25-year-old attacker.

Barca are seeking a replacement for Neymar after his world-record €222m move to Paris Saint-Germain, and countryman Coutinho is tipped to fill the void.

Ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League opener at Watford on Saturday, Bellamy said it is too difficult to turn down Barca.

‘Liverpool are going to stay firm,’ Bellamy told Sky Sports. ‘But it’s still early in the transfer window, and how long can they stay firm?

‘No supporter wants to hear this, everyone thinks their team is the biggest, and rightly so, but this is Barcelona. If they come calling, it’s very difficult for players to turn down.

‘This is Coutinho, who has the opportunity to play with Lionel Messi, the best player to play football, to go to one of the best clubs in football. How can you look him in the eyes and tell him this isn’t an improve[ment] for him? To tell him this isn’t what you deserve?

‘This is the difference. With Liverpool you’ve got the chance of competing in the Champions League with Liverpool, or there’s a chance of realistically going to win the Champions League with Barcelona. It’s nigh-on impossible to turn them down.’

Former Manchester United defender and Everton captain Phil Neville added: “It’s happening, it’s going to happen isn’t it? But it’s just about how much they can get.

‘I think he’ll want it now. It’s Barcelona; when they come, you go. I think he’s good enough for Barcelona, he has the characteristics, skill and technique to fit in there.

‘But did they miss him that much when he was out injured? I know he scored 14 goals, but if they got £100m, reinvested and bought someone, say Diego Costa, I think that would give them a better chance of winning the league than having Coutinho in the side.’

– This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za