Liverpool news: Barcelona have no intention of signing Philippe Coutinho in January, says Balague
Barcelona had three bids rejected for Coutinho in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool stood firm and maintained the Brazilian would not leave, despite him expressing his desire to move to the Nou Camp.
Barcelona CEO Oscar Grau has stirred up rumours of a potential swoop for Coutinho in the January transfer window by saying: “We are ready to buy Coutinho in the winter market, or any player the technical staff request.”
Balague believes those quotes show Barca can afford Coutinho, but do not confirm they will make a move for him in the winter.
“The Coutinho-Barcelona link will not go away,” he told Sky Sports.
I don’t think it’s going to happen in January, I don’t think they’ve got intention of making it in January
Guillem Balague on Barcelona not wanting Philippe Coutinho in January
“It was quite clear, everybody knows Coutinho wanted to go to Barcelona, Barcelona wanted Coutinho, but Liverpool said no.
“The latest rumours comes from Oscar Grau, the CEO of Barcelona, who said ‘if we wanted to sign Coutinho in January, we can’.
“But remember that’s what he said, he’s not saying ‘we’re going to go for Philippe Coutinho’. Are they interested? Of course they are.
“If you look at Barcelona, and it will become more and more obvious in the next few games against Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla, you’ll realise Barcelona still need two or three top players.
Liverpool's Coutinho scores wonder goal against Moscow
SKY SPORTS
Liverpool news: Philippe Coutinho is still of interest of Barcelona
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“A (Marco) Verratti, another (Andres) Iniesta, that kind of player, and a Coutinho.
“So of course they are still interested in Coutinho, they’ve got everything sorted with the player, we’ve all known that for months but will they convince Liverpool? That’s the question mark.
“I don’t think it’s going to happen in January, I don’t think they’ve got intention of making it in January.
“The words of Oscar Grau were ‘if we had to pay for him, we’ve got the money for him’.”
