BARCELONA

18:35h CEST

Barça's technical department continue to follow their summer rebuilding plans as though nothing is going on with Neymar. The original objective was to bring in a forward (that vacany has been filled by the return of Gerard Deulofeu), a right-back (after being attempts to lure Héctor Bellerín foundered, the club signed Nelson Semedo) and a midfielder. Originally, the idea was to sign Marco Verratti, but that operation came to nothing. After that, the option of tempting Philippe Coutinho to Camp Nou gathered pace, to the point where one source in Catalunya is claiming that Barça already have an agreement with the player - although that could well just be hot air.

Full screen BOBBY YIP (REUTERS)

Liverpool could make Coutinho deal economically unviable

Sources at Barcelona have assured AS that “Liverpool are going to make it practically impossible” for the club to sign Countinho. They know that while the Brazilian would jump at the chance of returning to Barcelona, where he spent a season on loan at Espanyol, at Liverpool, Coutinho isn't only a key cog in Jürgen Klopp's side - he is also of huge value within the club's marketing strategy. Another worry for Barcelona, is that if PSG come along and pay Neymar's buy-out fee - which some outlets claim could happen on Monday or Tuesday of next week, Liverpool will effectively be able to name their price for Coutinho.