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On the day Philippe Coutinho signed for Aston Villa in January, there were strange, and brief, claims from Spain that as well as Steven Gerrard’s side having a €40m purchase clause for the player at the end of his loan, Tottenham would have the same.

It didn’t make a great deal sense, and was largely forgotten very quickly.

Catalan newspaper Sport have now decided to chase after the claim and clarify the situation, and they say sources at Barcelona ‘deny Tottenham have a purchase option’ for Coutinho of €40m or any other figure.

The same sources at Barcelona did say that Spurs were interested during the winter market, and that it’s not ruled out they could come forward again in the summer. However, they wouldn’t be able to use a clause and would have to negotiate a fresh deal.

Of course, Aston Villa do have a €40m clause and if they use that then the only way the deal could collapse is if Coutinho doesn’t fancy the move, with Mundo Deportivo saying a longer term contract between the Birmingham club and the Brazilian hasn’t yet been agreed.