Coutinho deal far from nearing completion, says Balague

Philippe Coutinho’s proposed switch from Liverpool to Barcelona is not as close as is being reported, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

Barca’s general manager Josep Segura had reported that the deal between the two clubs was “close”, as well as the signing of Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele.

However, Balague has poured cold water on the claims, stating: "Reading between the lines, he is trying to say - and I have spoken to all the relevant sources - that Barca want both players and they are in talks with their representatives. Not more than that. Even though if you take a sentence from it out of context it sounds different.

"It means they still need to do deals with the clubs and that will not be easy, in fact, it is far from being a close deal if you analyse the situation right now.

"Borussia has said that Barcelona have not got any close to their price tag for Dembele, €150m (£136m), and there is no price for Coutinho. That's where the situation is at the moment.

"Liverpool insist they will not sell and they have no intention of meeting Barca right now, despite all the false stories about meetings between clubs coming from the Catalan press, which the club have no influence about.” 

One transfer target Barca have secured is Paulinho, with the Brazilian midfielder unveiled today after a €40m deal was agreed with Guangzhou Evergrande. The deal is the first cash Barca have splashed since Neymar's departure to PSG for €220m as the Spanish giants look to strengthen their squad in the wake of a 5-1 aggregate humbling at the hands of bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.

Image: Getty/Victor Fraile

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