Barcelona close to deals for Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele, claims Josep Segura

By Rory O'Callaghan

Image: Barcelona's general manager, Pep Segura insists the Spanish club are closing in on a deal for Philippe Coutinho

Barcelona are close to agreeing deals for both Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele, according to the Catalan club's general manager, Josep Segura.

Coutinho has been heavily linked with a move to the Camp Nou after handing in a transfer request at Anfield, with reports in the Catalan press suggesting a deal is now just days away, although Liverpool insist the Brazil international is not for sale and have already rejected a £90.4m offer from Barcelona.

Dortmund have turned down an identical offer for their France international Dembele, who is currently serving an internal suspension at the German club after missing training amid the speculation surrounding his future.

Image: Segura also claims Barcelona are close to signing Ousmane Dembele

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde is desperate to sign reinforcements after seeing his side suffer a 5-1 aggregate defeat to bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.

Segura insists Barca are closing in on their two main two transfer targets as they look to replace Neymar, who joined Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record £200m move earlier this month.

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Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum says the team don't want Coutinho to leave for Barcelona but says it is his decision to make

"We are discussing the conditions of Coutinho and Dembele. We are close, obviously, but as long as we don't have the deal closed, we cannot say anything," Segura told TV3.

When asked if he believed if the pair would both move to Barcelona this summer, Segura replied: "We hope."

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Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets reiterated his calls for fresh signings following the heavy defeat to Madrid on Wednesday night.

Image: Barcelona suffered a heavy defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup

"It's clear signings are needed," Busquets said. "We have to strengthen the squad. We need attacking players to compensate for Neymar.

"But every position can be strengthened and the more quality players that come in the better. I hope the best players arrive and that they generate competition and give the coach decisions to make."

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