Liverpool transfer news: Barcelona chief confirms Philippe Coutinho interest at event

Fernandez faced the media today at the Nou Camp at the unveiling of new signing Paulinho.

He confirmed Liverpool playmaker Coutinho was wanted as well as Borussia Dortmund star Ousmane Dembele.

Fernandez said: "They [Coutinho and Dembele] are players that we are very interested in and they are important to us because we feel they would adapt well to our team.”

Barca have £200.6million burning a hole in their pocket following the sale of Neymar.

Two bids have already been made for Coutinho but the club have turned them down because they are adamant they don’t want to sell.

That’s despite the Brazilian last week handing in a transfer request - on the day the Kop owners declared he’s not for sale.

Barcelona’s general manager Josep Segura this week claimed the club are close to agreeing deals for both Coutinho and Dembele.

But Spanish football expert Balague thinks a move is some way off as it stands.

He said: "This is exactly what Segura said: 'We are negotiating the details for Coutinho and Dembele. We are close, that is obvious, but until everything gets fully confirmed, you cannot say anything else.'

"Reading between the lines, he is trying to say - and I have spoken to all the relevant sources - that Barca want both players and they are in talks with their representatives. Not more than that. Even though if you take a sentence from it out of context it sounds different.

"It means they still need to do deals with the clubs and that will not be easy, in fact, it is far from being a close deal if you analyse the situation right now.”

Sergi Roberto is another player who could be on the move and he’s been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp but Barcelona director Fernandez is adamant the club want him to stay.

He said: "We have talked to him and it was a very normal conversation.

"We want him to do a great job for the team and we want him to do so for many more years."