Plan B: Who can Barcelona sign if Verratti stays at Paris Saint-Germain?
Barcelona's reported desire to sign Marco Verratti might encounter a roadblock in Paris Saint Germain's president, Nasser Al Khelaifi. In conversation with La Sexta, Patrick Kluivert, who abandoned his role as PSG's director of football, said he couldn't envision a scenario in which Les Parisiens sold the Italian midfielder to the Blaugrana.
"I know the PSG president very well and I also know that Verratti wants to go to Barcelona, but PSG will not let him leave," Kluivert declared. "He renewed his contract last year and it will be very difficult (for Barca to sign him)."
Verratti's movement and passing would be welcome at Barcelona, but the Catalan club will inevitably have to search elsewhere if PSG refuses to part ways with the product of Pescara Calcio.
Here are three midfielders Barcelona could sign if Verratti doesn't move to the Camp Nou:
Geoffrey Kondogbia
According to ESPN's Jordi Blanco, Geoffrey Kondogbia is Barcelona's "Plan B" behind Verratti. The French midfielder, 24, reportedly orbited the Blaugrana in the summer of 2015 but joined Internazionale for a reported transfer fee of €36 million. The Nerazzurri are in a downward spiral and Kondogbia is yet to live up to his apparent price tag, but the Catalan club is allegedly confident he would be a perfect fit under Ernesto Valverde.
Philippe Coutinho
Tite, Brazil's manager, put it best: "He is the ideal player for Barca." In May, it was reported by Sport's Joaquim Piera that Liverpool values Philippe Coutinho at €90 million, and that the Reds would only sell the Brazilian midfielder for a "millionaire figure." Jurgen Klopp responded by saying "there are absolutely no plans" to sell the South American attacker, but the idea of Coutinho taking the pitch alongside his compatriot Neymar is a terrifying prospect for any Spanish club outside of the Blaugrana.
Lucas Lima
FOX Sports Brasil dropped a bomb, reporting that Lucas Lima will put pen to paper on a contract with Barcelona on July 1, and then join the Blaugrana on a free transfer in January 2018 when his deal expires at Santos Futbole Clube. The Brazilian attacking midfielder's agent is apparently Neymar's father, whose son, of course, joined the Catalan club from the Peixe in 2013.