Ernesto Valverde remains hopeful of sealing a deal to rope in Leon Goretzka in January with Lionel Messi reportedly urging the Barcelona board to sign big names to bolster the squad.
It is known to all that Barcelona are still keen on roping in Coutinho, who is reportedly desperate to join Lionel Messi and Co. at the Nou Camp.
But the Liverpool bosses have maintained their stance that the Brazilian is not for sale at any price.
The Brazilian had handed in an official transfer request but Liverpool turned down Barcelona’s three back-to-back bids for Coutinho and he ended up remaining at Anfield and has now displayed good form for the Premier League club.
Barcelona are reportedly eyeing to launch an initial offer of £127m to tempt Liverpool to sell Coutinho in January.
Even if the Catalan giants manage to prise Coutinho away from Anfield, the Brazilian would not be able to play in the Champions League for Barcelona.
And now Barca boss Valverde has triggered a plan B in order to add more creativity to their squad to make sure that they can hold on to their sublime form in La Liga as well as on the European stage.
Barcelona are now desperate to secure the services of Schalke star Goretzka and are planning to launch a bid to sign the player during the January transfer window, according to Spanish website Diario Gol.
He has emerged as a top-notch player in the Bundesliga and is now under the radar of Europe’s elite clubs.
The report also claim that the Barcelona bosses are a huge admirer of Goretzka and believe that the German midfielder has all in him to become the next Iniesta or Xavi.
The Barca hierarchy believe that he could be the perfect signing to add more strength to their midfield behind Messi and Luis Suarez.
Goretzka has displayed good form this season and has shown the world that he is a midfielder who gets on the score-sheet quite often – with eight goals to his name in just eight league starts this season.