Barcelona are "not optimistic" about signing Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool in the January transfer window, according to Guillem Balague
The Brazilian was the subject of multiple offers from Barcelona in the summer and speculation surrounding his future has intensified again ahead of the January transfer window, but Balague insists Liverpool's stance has not changed.
"Liverpool don't want to sell Coutinho," Balague told Sky Sports after Barcelona's 3-0 win over Real Madrid in Saturday's Clasico.
"That's where they stand right now, so Barcelona are not optimistic about the possibility of Coutinho going there.
"Obviously they will try and they want to make an offer in January, but even Coutinho's entourage are thinking it probably won't happen, because Liverpool are saying the same as what they said in the summer: 'We are not interested in selling'."
Coutinho has been outstanding for Liverpool this season, scoring his 11th goal of the campaign in their 3-3 draw with Arsenal on Friday Night Football, but he is not Barcelona's only big-money transfer target.