Barcelona in ‘advanced negotiations’ with Guangzhou Evergrande for the signing of former Tottenham flop Paulinho
The La Liga side had an offer knocked back from the Chinese Super League side earlier on in the summer
BARCELONA are in 'advanced negotiations' to sign former Tottenham flop Paulinho from Guangzhou Evergrande, according to reports in Spain.
Ernesto Valverde has been chasing the 29-year-old all summer, where the Catalan club saw an offer of £17.5m rejected from the Chinese Super League side.
However, according to Spanish news outlet Sport, talks have progressed this week, with a fee close to being reached in the coming days.
The report states that the deal will be close to £27million, after Barca refused to pay his release clause of £35m.
They also report that Guangzhou presented the possibility of selling Paulinho to the La Liga side in January, a scenario that was immediately rebuffed by the Copa del Rey champions.
Valverde is believed to be an admirer of his sheer physicality in the middle of the pitch, while the Brazilian is also a competent passer.
A vital necessity of the Barca style of play.
Sport also claim that Barcelona are eyeing up a move for Nice's central midfielder powerhouse Jean-Michael Seri.
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The Ivory Coast international has a release clause of £36million, and would compete with Paulinho for a starting spot at the Nou Camp.
Seri is also attracting strong interest from Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side, with the two European giants to battle out to lure away the 26-year-old from Ligue 1.
However the Spanish side will need to offload players from midfield area, with Arda Turna, Sergi Samper, Rafinha and Sergi Roberto likely to be shipped off.
Barcelona are attempting to re-shape their side after selling Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee of £198million.
They continue to be linked with moves for Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho AND Chelsea's Eden Hazard.
While they have reportedly 'held talks' with Monaco for their teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe as well as Borussia Dortmund ace Ousmane Dembele.