Barcelona are continuing their pursuit of Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho - but are increasingly worried that they will not be able to do a deal in January, and will eventually be usurped by Paris Saint-Germain. Coutinho remains Barca’s No.1 target to replace Andres Iniesta, now 33 and in the twilight of his career. The Spanish giants failed to get a deal done when the Reds rejected all offers for the playmaker during the summer transfer window, despite the player’s desire to move. Barca chiefs saw three bids rejected. all of which were heavily-tailored around potential add-ons. The last of those totalled a potential £119million - not guaranteed - despite Coutinho handing in a transfer request. Coutinho is now very much back in the fold at Anfield, yet Catalan interest won’t go away and there remain suggestions they will look to sign him in January. However, according to Mundo Deportivo, they have no intention of meeting Liverpool’s reported £135million asking price and won’t budge from a figure of £80million up front with £30million in variables. Simply that isn’t going to entice a Liverpool board already reticent to sell mid-season, while there is a growing worry at Camp Nou that they are set to miss out not just in the winter transfer window, but for good. Barcelona have been undertaking hierarchal changes in recent months, which have seen long-time director of football Raul Sanllehi moved aside. Sanllehi has been with the club 15 years and been instrumental in pushing through some of the club’s biggest deals during a golden period in the club's history. PLAY His exit sees Barca lose arguably their most important deal-closer, with CEO Òscar Grau and Fran Carbó filling the breach. Both lack Sanllehi’s experience with regards transfer negotiations. Last week, at the FIFA ‘The Best’ awards in London, Sanllehi and Andre Cury - the man who helped Barcelona sign Neymar in 2013 - held talks with Coutinho’s representative Kia Joorabchian. However, French league leaders PSG also touched base with the player’s representative, with sporting director Antero Henrique - formerly at Atletico Madrid and tasked with taking PSG to the top of the European game - asking Joorabchian to be kept abreast of any talks and possible offers. Now Barcelona face a fight with the French side who, after spending big on Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, are eyeing Coutinho for next summer, when they hope Liverpool will be more agreeable - hopes emboldened by Coutinho's desire to move and the Reds’ anger with Barcelona’s tactics last summer. PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi has made Coutinho the club's No.1 choice, and according to reports has vowed to "do all he can" to land the 25-year-old. PSG’s hopes of getting Coutinho to swap his dream move to Camp Nou for the Parc des Princes seemingly rest on Barcelona's new transfer chiefs being unable to get a deal done with Liverpool again, and with persuading him to join their Brazilian core post-World Cup. Coutinho saw his international teammate Neymar swap Barcelona for PSG during the summer, while fellow Selecao teammates Marquinhos, Dani Alves, Lucas Moura and Thiago Silva are also key men for the Ligue 1 leaders. Coutinho’s arrival in Paris would further cement the power base of Neymar at the club, at a time when a number of fringe players - many of whom are likely to leave either in January or next summer as the club seek to comply with FFP rules - are said to be frustrated with the special treatment handed to the £200million man.

Barcelona are continuing their pursuit of Liverpool’s
Philippe Coutinho - but are increasingly worried that
they will not be able to do a deal in January, and will
eventually be usurped by Paris Saint-Germain.
Coutinho remains Barca’s No.1 target to replace
Andres Iniesta, now 33 and in the twilight of his
career.
The Spanish giants failed to get a deal done when the
Reds rejected all offers for the playmaker during the
summer transfer window, despite the player’s desire
to move.
Barca chiefs saw three bids rejected. all of which
were heavily-tailored around potential add-ons. The
last of those totalled a potential £119million - not
guaranteed - despite Coutinho handing in a transfer
request.
Coutinho is now very much back in the fold at Anfield,
yet Catalan interest won’t go away and there remain
suggestions they will look to sign him in January.
However, according to Mundo Deportivo, they have no
intention of meeting Liverpool’s reported £135million
asking price and won’t budge from a figure of
£80million up front with £30million in variables.
Simply that isn’t going to entice a Liverpool board
already reticent to sell mid-season, while there is a
growing worry at Camp Nou that they are set to miss
out not just in the winter transfer window, but for
good.
Barcelona have been undertaking hierarchal changes
in recent months, which have seen long-time director
of football Raul Sanllehi moved aside. Sanllehi has
been with the club 15 years and been instrumental in
pushing through some of the club’s biggest deals
during a golden period in the club's history.
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His exit sees Barca lose arguably their most
important deal-closer, with CEO Òscar Grau and Fran
Carbó filling the breach. Both lack Sanllehi’s
experience with regards transfer negotiations.
Last week, at the FIFA ‘The Best’ awards in London,
Sanllehi and Andre Cury - the man who helped
Barcelona sign Neymar in 2013 - held talks with
Coutinho’s representative Kia Joorabchian.
However, French league leaders PSG also touched
base with the player’s representative, with sporting
director Antero Henrique - formerly at Atletico Madrid
and tasked with taking PSG to the top of the
European game - asking Joorabchian to be kept
abreast of any talks and possible offers.
Now Barcelona face a fight with the French side who,
after spending big on Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, are
eyeing Coutinho for next summer, when they hope
Liverpool will be more agreeable - hopes emboldened
by Coutinho's desire to move and the Reds’ anger
with Barcelona’s tactics last summer.
PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi has made Coutinho the
club's No.1 choice, and according to reports has
vowed to "do all he can" to land the 25-year-old.
PSG’s hopes of getting Coutinho to swap his dream
move to Camp Nou for the Parc des Princes
seemingly rest on Barcelona's new transfer chiefs
being unable to get a deal done with Liverpool again,
and with persuading him to join their Brazilian core
post-World Cup.
Coutinho saw his international teammate Neymar
swap Barcelona for PSG during the summer, while
fellow Selecao teammates Marquinhos, Dani Alves,
Lucas Moura and Thiago Silva are also key men for
the Ligue 1 leaders.
Coutinho’s arrival in Paris would further cement the
power base of Neymar at the club, at a time when a
number of fringe players - many of whom are likely to
leave either in January or next summer as the club
seek to comply with FFP rules - are said to be
frustrated with the special treatment handed to the
£200million man.

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