Liverpool’s star midfielder Philippe Coutinho will reportedly be targeted by both Barcelona and Real Madrid at the end of the season.

That’s according to Sport (h/t Aaron Flanagan of the Daily Mirror), who claimed the two La Liga giants are both keen on the Brazilian playmaker. Flanagan said the Reds “could be inundated” with bids for Coutinho after a brilliant beginning to the season at Anfield, although they are not looking to cash in at this point.

The Brazil international has been in tremendous form in recent weeks, looking rejuvenated under the tutelage of new Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. As we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, the former Inter Milan is a driving force for the Reds with the ball at his feet:

It’s not just this season in which Coutinho has excelled, though. In what was a difficult 2014-15 campaign for Liverpool, the intricate midfielder was a bright light in advanced areas, adding some spectacular goals to his refined link-up play and wonderful passing ability.

They’re contributions that not only saw Coutinho win Liverpool’s Player of the Season award, but grow in stature in the eyes of supporters. For a player who is operating off the centre-forward for a club like the Reds, a regular stream of goals is vital, and it’s something the Brazilian has carried into this season, especially since the arrival of Klopp.

As noted by the UEFA Europa League Twitter feed, with the German in the Anfield hot seat, Coutinho has pushed on to new levels:

Whether he’s quite to the standard of Real or Barcelona is another matter entirely, though. There’s no denying Coutinho’s talent, but he performs well in bursts for the Reds, rather than on a regular basis; the two La Liga sides are teams whose fans command impeccable and consistent high standards.

Still, as we can see here courtesy of WhoScored.com, Coutinho does fare pretty well in statistical comparison to Andres Iniesta and Isco in league matches this season, two players who are the key creators for Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, as of late:

It’s a deal that wouldn’t make sense for any party currently. Coutinho wouldn’t be guaranteed a starting spot at either the Camp Nou or the Santiago Bernabeu, and at the moment, he doesn’t quite possess the consistency to complement his undeniable ability, something that is vital when playing for one of the world’s biggest football clubs.

Liverpool is a wonderful place for him to continue striving for this consistency, too. There have already been signs that Klopp is going to turn Coutinho into a much more rounded footballer and a player that’ll be at the crux of what the manager will be hoping is a red renaissance in years to come.

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