Liverpool will be sweating on a work permit for imminent new signing Philippe Coutinho.

The Sun says the Reds looked set to lose out to a £10m bid from Southampton in the battle for Inter Milan's Brazilian midfielder.

But Liverpool have now increased their downpayment offer to £6m, with the rest guaranteed once Coutinho hits various clauses in his contract.

Anfield managing director Ian Ayre will head the party flying to Italy, though the club will still have to apply for a work permit for the 20-year-old.

Coutinho signed for Inter at 16 but the highly-rated youngster stayed in Brazil with Vasco da Gama for two years before moving to Serie A.