Barcelona transfer news: Suarez - Coutinho swap deal, Alba welcomes top signing and more - 18th December 2017 

Spanish expert suggests swap deal

Luis Suarez is still remembered fondly around Liverpool for his stunning exploits at the Merseyside club while Philippe Coutinho looks set to follow the Uruguayan's path and join the Blaugrana in the coming year. However, Liverpool are unwilling to negotiate in January as per Spanish football expert, Guillem Balague. He told Sky Sports:

“Liverpool are not putting any price on Coutinho. They are still in the same position they were in in the summer. If you read the Catalan press, with leaks from the club and it seems they have put a price and it is €140m euros, which is a prohibitive price in the eyes of many at Barcelona."

“So I just wonder if Barcelona are saying to say ‘Look we cannot pay for him, we are going to go for Griezmann instead.'When actually, in reality, Liverpool have not put any price for Coutinho. So I just wonder if Barcelona are looking for an excuse to come out of the situation more or less right."

Further, Balague has suggested Liverpool should ask for a swap deal with the struggling Suarez, who would be an instant hit again with the fans. The Spanish expert told the Daily Mail:

“Philippe Coutinho was sensational for Liverpool at Bournemouth. The Reds should enjoy him while they can before Barcelona come calling again in the summer. Even if Liverpool receive in excess of the £138m Barcelona bid last summer, there are few like-for-like players they can buy —while bringing in a number of players is not always the best option."

“Instead, Liverpool should ask Barcelona to swap Coutinho for Luis Suarez. The striker has not been as prolific as in recent seasons and the Liverpool fans would love a returning hero. It would be a great move for both the club and the Premier League.”

While it definitely makes sense for Liverpool to get Suarez back in exchange for Coutinho, it remains to be seen whether Barcelona allow their no.9 to leave.

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Jordi Alba is ready to welcome Antoine Griezmann

Alba (left) is ready to welcome top signing Griezmann (right)

The Atletico Madrid superstar is now set to join Barcelona ahead of Manchester United if recent reports in Spain are to be believed. The transfer speculation further intensified with the Catalan club's head of sporting and institutional relations, Guillermo Amor, saying:

"Well. If the newspaper says so, it may be the case. There may well have been an approach."

Now, left-back Jordi Alba expressed his delight at the possibility of the Blaugrana signing the French superstar. He told Onda Cero:

"We are talking about a top player. He is doing things very well at Atletico Madrid in recent years. Everyone who comes to make the team stronger will be good."

"I already said at the beginning of the season that the squad is very good. We are doing things very well. We will see who comes in the January window and in the summer. In the meantime, the ones that are already here have to fight for all the titles."

Thus, the stage is definitely getting ready for Griezmann to become a Barcelona player in the near future.

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Barcelona set to sign Yerry Mina in January

Mina is set to become a Barcelona player soon

The Palmeiras centre-half was anyways Barcelona-bound with the Spanish club having an option to sign the player for €8 million in the summer of 2018. However, Ernesto Valverde now wants to get the Colombian international in January itself, as per Don Balon.

The Barcelona boss understands the difficulty of obtaining a top centre-back in the winter transfer window, especially one who is not cup-tied for Champions League. Hence, it makes more sense to sign Mina in January and go for a proven centre-back in the summer.

As per the news outlet, the Blaugrana are willing to pay an extra €4 million to sign the 23-year old in the upcoming transfer window. Mina could prove to be a decent acquisition for Barcelona and also, this allows the club to grant Javier Mascherano's request of leaving in January.