Alberto Moreno tells Liverpool 'brother' Philippe Coutinho to snub January move to Barcelona

Alberto Moreno would like his close pal Philippe Coutinho to snub Barcelona during the January transfer window but the Liverpool left-back admits that the decision is out of his hands.

Coutinho was poised to move to the Nou Camp in the summer after handing in a transfer request.

However, the Brazil international stayed at Anfield with Liverpool rejecting multiple offers from Barcelona to part ways with his services.

The Catalans are expected to revive the saga in January after last month Barcelona CEO Oscar Grau claimed that the La Liga giants are financially ready to make a new attempt to sign the Liverpool ace in January.

"We are prepared to sign Coutinho or other players but the proposal has to come from the technical staff. We will do our best to meet their demands," Grau said during a press conference.

Mundo Deportivo reported earlier this week that Barcelona officials will meet with their Liverpool counterparts before the end of this month to step up the negotiations, with the Catalans set to launch a first offer worth €80m (£71.3m, $94.2m) plus €30m in add-ons to complete the move.

Moreno admits that he has personally told Coutinho to stay at Liverpool but the Spanish international doesn't know whether he will follow his advice.

"I have told him, eh. I've said: 'Brother, don't go.' But in the end, a player has to make the decision himself. I can't tell you what he said to me, of course, because it's something that's very personal, but we've talked," Moreno admitted during an interview with The Guardian.

"He's my friend and always will be, we get on very well, and of course [I'll support him whatever his decision]. I don't know what will happen. If it was down to me, I'd love him close to me for life, always enjoying seeing him play football, which is a wonder. It's a privilege. It's an honour to share a dressing room with him. He's top, top. I see him train every day and he does things I've never seen before. Things with the ball, touches, dribbles ..."

Reports in Spain are suggesting that Barcelona want to complete the signing of Coutinho in January in order to avoid other clubs like Paris Saint-Germain joining the race in the summer.

Moreno hopes Coutinho will stay at Liverpool beyond the January transfer window but he admits that the player, Liverpool and Barcelona will have the final word.

"If I get to decide, Philippe's not going," Moreno said when asked about the possibility of losing his pal in January.

"But I can't interfere. It's Liverpool, Barcelona and him, and they decide. He's a big piece at Liverpool. Every fan, everyone who watches Liverpool, everyone who understands football knows that. They know that if he goes, it will leave a big hole. But we're Liverpool. We have a great squad and we won't stop being Liverpool."