Liverpool plan to offer star new contract to fight off interest from England and Europe

Liverpool will offer Philippe Coutinho a new contract

But the Anfield club regard the Samba superstar as untouchable and will offer him a new contract - even though he signed a deal only 18 months ago.

Coutinho, 24, is wanted by Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

The little Brazilian cost Liverpool just £8.5million when he joined from Inter Milan in 2013 and he has become their prized asset since his arrival.

The Daily Star Sunday has also been told that he is being discussed at Manchester City as a potential successor to Spanish maestro David Silva.

But they realise prising Coutinho from Merseyside would be extremely difficult, even though they managed to sign England international Raheem Sterling from Liverpool for £49m in the summer of 2015.

In Coutinho's case, it could take a world record fee of £90m, eclipsing the £89.2m that Manchester United forked out to re-sign Paul Pogba in the summer.

Liverpool, though, are not interested in selling the Brazilian, who hopes to return from his ankle ligament injury against City on New Year's Eve.

They are looking instead at making him their highest-paid player on around £150k-a-week.

Coutinho is on the mend after injuring his ankle against Sunderland last month but his recovery will not come quick enough for tomorrow night's Mersey derby at Everton.