Naijabarcelonalovers

Liverpool  have reportedly agreed to negotiate with Barcelona over a move for  Philippe Coutinho,   after "very positive" talks between the club's owners Fenway Sports Group and the Brazilian's representatives. According to Joaquin Piera,  Sport , Liverpool will sign a replacement for Coutinho before the close of the transfer window on Thursday, then the 25-year-old will be allowed to depart for Camp Nou in a deal worth approximately €150 million. Per Piera, Liverpool want to sign a replacement before Coutinho leaves in order to avoid paying over-inflated fees for a replacement. Barcelona confirmed  they had signed Ousmane Dembele on Friday for an initial €105 million, plus add-ons. The youngster only signed for Borussia Dortmund last May for  €15 million, per  Stephan Uersfeld  ESPN FC. According to  Kicker  (h/t Metro),  Liverpool are interested in bringing in Renato Sanches from Bayern Munich, with Carlo Ancelotti hap...

Barcelona have admitted it will be difficult to sign Liverpool  playmaker Philippe Coutinho  because the Brazilian's contract doesn't contain a release clause. The Blaugrana have bemoaned the tough conditions in this summer's transfer market as they also try to sign Borussia Dortmund  forward Ousmane Dembele. Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez described the difficulties involved in negotiating both deals, per James Pearce  of the   Liverpool Echo : "Not just Barca but any team looking for top quality players are getting involved in a very difficult situation in this market. "Why? Because the market is where clubs like us want to sign top quality players. There’s no buy-out clauses so that makes things trickier." Fernandez confirmed Barca remain steadfast in their attempts to sign new players. The five-time UEFA Champions League winners are looking to spend the near-£200 million raised by the sale of Brazil international Neymar to mega-r...

The midfielder has called for reinforcements. Sergio Busquet  said what many  Barcelona  fans were thinking following Sunday’s disappointing 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid    in the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana. The midfielder admitted Barca need to make new signings now, with the start of La Liga less than a week away. Barca have been heavily linked with moves for Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho, yet it is Paulinho who appears closest to signing at the moment. "We don’t need new signings because of the result, but because we have to renew [the squad]. And now’s the time, no matter what," he said via Sport. Gerard Deulofeu    filled in for Neymar against Madrid, but failed to shine, while the club’s only other summer signing, Nelson Semedo, did not feature at all. Busquets also insisted Barca did not play too badly at Camp Nou, but did concede winning the trophy now, is highly unlikely, against a Madrid side in top form. "The r...

Barcelona have officially announced Paulinho’s signing. At 12 : 54 Spanish local time, the club official website announced the signing of Paulinho. Barcelona have set his release clause at €120 million. Paulinho will undergo a medical on Thursday and the the club will unveil him later in the day. But as the club makes the first move after the departure of Neymar, the question arises, was does Barca have a plausible plan of action ? Paulinho is not worth €40 million. Despite being in his prime, no club with a definite transfer plan would pay €40 million for his services. He provides depth to the squad, but at the expense of players like Denis Suarez and Carles Alena. The move for Paulinho clearly shows desperation. Barca had earlier targeted players like Marco Verratti, but failure to land these players led to the signing of Paulinho. The negotiating team at the Camp Nou is inefficient. The team has prolonged transfer talks with Liverpool and Dortmund for Phi...

According to Mundo Deportivo, Philippe Coutinho is closer to the Camp Nou than he has ever been. Apparently, club officials Raül Sanllehí and Robert Fernandez flew to London from New York to submit an offer of €100 million for the Brazilian playmaker. Coutinho’s agent Giuliano Bertolucci is waiting for a response from Liverpool to the offer. Mundo Deportivo have reported that Liverpool will be lured into accepting the offer. Coutinho did not travel with the Liverpool squad to face Athletic Club in Dublin. He remained behind, citing some ‘discomfort’. Also, Jürgen Klopp is looking at Manuel Lanzini to replace Coutinho at Anfield, according to Mundo Deportivo . This also indicates preparation for Coutinho’s departure, on Liverpool’s part.

Barca get serious about Lemar. We start today in France, with news that Barcelona    are set to rival Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool for Monaco winger Thomas Lemar, according to  L'Equipe. The 21-year-old reportedly quite fancies a move to Camp Nou and could be about to disappoint long-term admirers Arsenal. Conte rules out Hazard move No sooner had Neymar left Barca, than Eden Hazard’s name was being mentioned as a possible replacement, but Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has been quick to play down the rumors. “We are trying to buy the players, not to sell them. Otherwise the number is always less and we are in trouble,” he said via the independent. Messi wants Dybala at Barcelona Over in Italy, the talk is that Lionel Messi  wants Paulo Dybala at Barcelona, well that’s accordingly to the Corriere   fellow Sport at  least. The Blaugrana are willing to offer Juve €120m for the Argentine or €90m plus Andres Iniesta, but the message fr...

Unsettled Arsenal playmaker Mesut Özil alternative to Philippe Coutinho. According to RMC, Liverpool  has rejected a €100 million from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho. This is very indicative of their position on Coutinho. Just after the French radio station released the report, Jurgen Klopp again spoke against the transfer. This means that Barcelona have to look elsewhere for a new playmaker. And Robert Fernandez is looking towards unsettled Gunner Mesut Özil to fill that void in the squad. Özil’s situation at the Emirates is a unique one. The star German midfielder loves his club. But the club officials are reluctant to match Özil’s wage demands. That places him in a contract dispute with the club. Robert is looking to swoop in and gain his signature while Arsenal officials continue to negotiate. According to the Telegraph, Barcelona will make a €59 million offer to prize away the playmaker from Arsenal. Özil’s contract has just a year to ...