According to Diario Sport, Barcelona are considering other avenues in order to sell reported Newcastle United and Arsenal target Phillip Coutinho.
The Brazil international has been heavily linked with a move this summer.
Coutinho just hasn’t got going at Barcelona since joining from Liverpool. And, this past season, he has been loaned out to German champions Bayern Munich.
Sport claim Bayern won’t exercise their option to buy him permanently. Barca, meanwhile, seek to sell him for around £80 million but understand it will be difficult.
The Catalan giants, therefore, are now willing to accept a player-plus-cash deal. They demand around £50 million while looking for a top defender – centre-back or left-back.
The Spanish editorial, however, then say Barca aren’t convinced by Newcastle’s proposal.
The Magpies are in the midst of a takeover involving a Saudi billionaire. However, with that ongoing, there are no guarantees it will ultimately be concluded.
Fellow Premier League suitors Leicester City and Everton, meanwhile, have gone quiet.
The other English team reportedly tracking Coutinho is Arsenal.
Le10 Sport recently claimed that the Gunners are pursuing talks with agent Kia Joorabchian, in the hope of luring Coutinho to North London, though the finances will be tricky.
But if Barcelona are seeking a defender-plus-cash deal, Arsenal have little to offer.
David Luiz and Sokratis are both ageing. Shkodran Mustafi, Rob Holding and Calum Chambers, meanwhile, don’t exactly fit the criteria in terms of quality.
The Coutinho saga is likely to extend way into the summer.
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