Barcelona chief confirms deals for Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele are ‘close’
Nou Camp general manager claims the £180m pursuit of Liverpool's Brazilian playmaker and Borussia Dortmund's French international winger is on the verge of being completed
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PHILIPPE COUNTINHO and Ousmane Dembele’s moves to Barcelona are “both close” to be completed, according to Nou Camp chiefs.
Liverpool have remained adamant that Coutinho will not leave Anfield despite the star handing in a transfer request.
But Pep Segura, general manager of Barcelona, has claimed the protracted £180million double swoop is on the verge of being finalised.
He told Spanish television channel TV3: “Coutinho and Dembele are both close.
“We are hopeful that they will end up wearing the Barca shirt.”
“Until deals are closed I can't say anything. We know we have to help the team and reinforce it and that's what we are doing.”
Barcelona are desperately trying to bolster their squad and are still reeling after losing Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain for £198m earlier this month.
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The need for new boss Ernesto Valverde to strengthen his side was rammed home this week as the Catalans were thumped 5-1 on aggregate to bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.
Barcelona have already had one bid of £90m rejected by the Premier League Reds for the 25-year-old Brazil playmaker Coutinho.
And it is claimed in the Spanish media that they had agreed a £90m initial payment with Dortmund for the 20-year-old French winger Dembele.
Despite the words of Segura, Valverde remained coy on the double swoop.
When asked whether the moves would be done before their La Liga opener against Real Betis on Sunday, he insisted: “I don’t know.”
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