Barcelona prepared to spend record amounts to land Coutinho and Dembele
With one week to go in the transfer window, Barça believe both deals are possible
The 222 million euros received for Neymar, though, is going to disappear...
"Player will arrive and they will be top quality." That's Barcelona take on how signings will accelerate over the coming days, coinciding with the final week of the transfer market and their moves for Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) and Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund).
However, the club have also realised that the 222 million euros which they received for Neymar will disappear as quickly as it arrived in order to sign the players needed to strengthen Ernesto Valverde's squad. In the current market, savings are not possible.
Barça realise that the summer of 2017 will see signings for the history books: never before has the club spent more than 100 million euros on one player, but the Neymar 'operation' has changed the scene to the point that the club will have to invest that much on, perhaps, two players in the form of Coutinho and Dembele.
Liverpool's Brazilian is the priority: the club believe they can close a deal despite Liverpool's stance. The coming days will be key and Barça have people in England and Monaco, where the Champions League draw is taking place, trying to push things through.
In Barca's favour is Coutinho's stance. He has not played for Liverpool yet this season and has even handed in a transfer request.
Dembele's case is similar, with the player currently serving a suspension at Dortmund after he missed training in a bid to force through a move to Camp Nou before the transfer market closes.
