With each passing minute, he gets closer to the door. The relentless pursuit, the speculation and the astronomical bid: nothing dilutes the sense that Philippe Coutinho is destined for Barcelona.
Liverpool are yet to receive a concrete offer this window, after rejecting three bids in the summer, but the dialogue that is taking place in the background indicates that an offer of £140million will see Coutinho become the third biggest transfer in history.
The economics for Liverpool are incredible, standing to make a £131.5million profit on a player they signed for £8.5million five years ago.
Money-ball is a term used frequently around Fenway Sports Group and this, arguably, is the greatest example you could ever wish to see.