Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Philippe Coutinho, Sebastian Giovinco

Philippe Coutinho has said he is not interested in signing for Barcelona after pledging his loyalty to Liverpool.

The talented midfielder told Lee Clayton of the Daily Mail that he wants to remain at Anfield, downplaying the lure of a switch to Barca: "I believe in finding somewhere you can express yourself, play without fear, play with everything you have. When you find that place, stay.

"This club, Liverpool, it has a plan. To be back on the top, and that's what I believe in. I want to be part of that," the 24-year-old continued. "From the owner, the manager, my team-mates. There is nothing that stops us competing with the big clubs. Clubs in England. Clubs in Europe. Yes, clubs like Barcelona. Why not?"

The Brazilian has been continually linked with a switch to join compatriot Neymar at the Camp Nou, but the player's latest statement appears to have killed off any chance of a move from Merseyside.

VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/Getty Images

Liverpool's official Twitter account on Wednesday confirmed the player signed a new five-year deal with the team:

Paul Hetherington of the Daily Star previously reported Coutinho had been targeted by Barca and Paris Saint-Germain, noting it would take a £90 million offer for Liverpool to consider selling their talisman.

The player has suffered with injury this term but has registered five goals and five assists in his 13 Premier League starts.

In other Barca news, former target Sebastian Giovinco has explained why he snubbed the Blaugrana after leaving Juventus in 2015.

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Speaking to Sky Italia (h/t Jack Otway of the Express), the prolific attacker gave his reason why he decided to head to MLS over a dream move to Spain:

"

It's true, in the past there was interest from Barcelona, but I'd have been a ball boy there.

With those three stars in attack, I wouldn't play at all.

I wasn't interested because I wanted to play. 

Neymar, Leo Messi and Luis Suarez would've played even with one leg and still made the difference, so there was no point in me being there.

"

Giovinco has been a raging success across the Atlantic and has scored 45 goals in 72 games for Toronto FC, per Otway.

Here is the Italian in action:

The saga surrounding Coutinho appears to have come to an end, and the Brazilian seems set to continue playing his football in the north-west for the foreseeable future.

Coutinho has developed into an incredible talent under manager Jurgen Klopp, but as Giovinco alluded, any incoming attacker would be playing second fiddle to Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

The Brazilian has improved hugely over the past year, but he would likely only make the Barca bench if he made his way to the Camp Nou in the coming years.