Barcelona president 'cannot confirm or deny anything' on Coutinho pursuit
Josep Maria Bartomeu isn't prepared to give anything away about Barcelona's reported efforts to sign Philippe Coutinho this summer.
Related: Coutinho not for sale as Liverpool bins Barcelona's reported €80M bid
Liverpool's Brazilian bandit has apparently been identified as an ideal addition to the Blaugrana ranks, even if his international teammate, Neymar, doesn't leave for Paris Saint-Germain. Coutinho's fine showings behind a front-three toward the latter part of last season saw him appear a natural fit for Andres Iniesta's spot, with the Spaniard entering the final year of his contract aged 33.
But Bartomeu is coy on rumours that Coutinho's on his way to Catalonia, refusing to discuss a player's future while he's employed at another club.
"He's a Liverpool player and I have a lot of respect for Liverpool. What we do in the summer is be very discreet about everything, so we can't confirm or deny anything," Bartomeu told Barcelona-based publication SPORT.
Bartomeu did, however, concede that he is looking for new recruits in Coutinho's position, adding: "More players will come, one in the midfield, definitely."
Following a season where current boss Ernesto Valverde's predecessor, Luis Enrique, attracted criticism for poor signings and apparent identity issues, Barcelona has been surprisingly quiet in the transfer window. Nelson Semedo was brought in for up to €35 million from Benfica to resolve the right-back problems that surfaced when Dani Alves left last summer, but the permanent purchases of Gerard Deulofeu and Marlon aren't expected to make an immediate impact in the starting XI.
A marquee arrival is expected before business shuts in Spain on Aug. 31, and Coutinho and Borussia Dortmund's Ousmane Dembele are the most prominent names linked fitting that criteria.
Bartomeu was speaking ahead of Saturday's El Clasico in Florida. Barcelona beat Manchester United 1-0 last time out, while Real Madrid will look to return to winning ways after being trounced 4-1 by Manchester City in its previous friendly.