Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Philippe Coutinho and Paul Pogba Rumours

Barcelona technical director Robert Fernandez has played down rumours that Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho could be on his way to the Camp Nou.

According to talkSPORT, he told Cadena SER, "Coutinho is a great player, with a great condition, but we have a lot of playmakers. But, it isn't easy to find players who are capable of playing for Barca."

As Spanish football expert Guillem Balague reports, the Brazilian has been linked with a move to the Catalan giants by his international team-mates David Luiz and Barca star Neymar:

Coutinho is one of former boss Brendan Rodgers' only signings to so far have a significant positive impact on the side. In 112 appearances for the Reds, the 23-year-old has scored 17 goals and created 23.

The Liverpool Echo's Tony Scott highlighted Coutinho as Liverpool's key creative force:

However, as football writer Dave O'Connell noted, he is yet to show his ability consistently:

Indeed, his recent wasteful performance against Norwich City demonstrates his need to improve, per WhoScored.com:

The creative midfielder is comfortable in possession and strong running with the ball, but until he can show the kind of incisiveness and consistency that the likes of Neymar and his Barca team-mates do so regularly, he simply isn't good enough to contest a starting berth with the Blaugrana.

A player who certainly could is Paul Pogba and Fernandez also had his say on the Juventus star. According to Edo Dalmonte of Calciomercato, he also told Cadena SER, "Pogba is a good player, there’s no point in going to see him to verify that. In any case, every good player is a Barcelona target."

The Frenchman is one of the biggest stars in world football and the 22-year-old represents an outstanding long-term replacement for the departed Xavi Hernandez and even Andres Iniesta, who is now on the wrong side of 30.

Pogba is a more physical specimen than the two Spaniards, but his excellent distribution, dribbling ability and threat from distance make him the outstanding candidate to patrol the Camp Nou's midfield in the future.

WhoScored.com demonstrates the latter two qualities, which Pogba shows on a regular basis:

Dalmonte's report noted that Chelsea are also interested in acquiring the France international, who will no doubt have countless suitors—though the number of clubs that can afford him is a low one.

However, a move to Barca seems almost inevitable for Pogba and Fernandez's comments only add more fuel to the fire.

Expect to see him plying his trade at the Camp Nou in the future, very possibly in a big-money move next summer.