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Barcelona have problems.

The Catalan club don’t have a big budget to sign players this summer, so their plan had been to include current members of their squad in deals. However, that’s hit a block because those players, such as Arthur and Samuel Umtiti, are quite happy where they are and have no plans to move.

Their next issue is Philippe Coutinho. Monday’s edition of Marca explains Chelsea and Newcastle United are ‘thinking about’ signing the player this summer.

Chelsea have been linked for some months, and the idea of a loan move with a purchase option looks like one which could suit everyone involved in the deal.

The Blues had wanted to see how Coutinho finished the season on loan at Bayern Munich. Despite having no plans to sign the player permanently it’s thought that he’d still have been playing.

Covid-19 put a stop to that, and the Brazilian has used the break to have an operation on his right ankle, which will see him out for around two weeks, regardless of the Bundesliga returning.

Barca’s hope is that he can get some football in before the transfer market, and then impress Chelsea and others.

The next few weeks are key in that regard.