Barcelona acknowledge interest in Coutinho and Dembele

Barcelona are still after Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho and Borussia Dortmund forward Ousmane Dembele.

Coutinho put in a transfer request last week, but Liverpool said that he is not for sale after rejecting two offers for the Brazil international from Barcelona.

Dembele has been fined and suspended from team training by Dortmund, and is reportedly refused all contact with the club since Barcelona made a bid reported to be worth €105 million including add-ons.

Barcelona are trying to reinvest the €222 million received from Paris Saint-Germain when the French club signed Brazil striker Neymar.

Liverpool’s American owners are not wavering in their stance on Coutinho, who has become an integral player for the Premier League team.

Coutinho will not be in the squad for Liverpool’s league match against Crystal Palace tomorrow, with the club saying he has a back injury.

Paulinho presented

Barcelona have been limited to convincing Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande to part with Brazil midfielder Paulinho for €40 million.

The 29-year-old Paulinho signed a four-year contract yesterday, three days before Barcelona open the Spanish league season against Real Betis.

Paulinho was considered a disappointment when he played for English club Tottenham for two seasons before moving to Guangzhou in 2015. He said at his presentation at Camp Nou that he had recovered his confidence in China.

Paulinho will be tasked with strengthening a Barcelona midfield that took a step back last season, a decline that stopped it from defending the Spanish league title.