On Wednesday the Catalan press aren’t quite as cocky as they usually are regarding Philippe Coutinho.
Sport say whilst Coutinho and Barcelona are doing all they can, time is starting to run out and there’s a real worry the Brazilian may not get his Liverpool exit.
Mundo Deportivo present a Barcelona ‘Plan B’ in case it becomes clear Coutinho isn’t happening. Paulo Dybala, Antoine Griezmann and Thomas Lemar are the three alternatives, but each of those signings would be hard with the window closing tomorrow.
Barcelona’s ‘Plan B of urgency’ would have to kick in pretty quickly, meaning they’d walk away from Coutinho, because signing one of the above isn’t something which can be started with an hour or so to go.
In that respect, outline contacts have already started between Barcelona and the clubs who own their alternatives.
Apart from their great plans ‘just in case’, the Catalan media seem very much in the dark over what is actually happening with Coutinho.
Sources from other countries are being referred to, which isn’t too normal in this kind of situation, Barcelona normally throw enough scraps to keep their favoured newspapers in motion.
Liverpool’s stance is said to be weakening, according to some claims, whilst others insist the position at Anfield hasn’t changed. In Barcelona there’s a mild panic developing given the stage of the window.
This isn’t mentioned, but there could even be a worry Liverpool are about to pull a ‘De Gea’… Agree to a late deal before accidentally-on-purpose seeing it collapse.
