LIverpool swap rumours: Barcelona confirm Andre Gomes will miss Chapecoense friendly

Gomes has been muted as a potential makeweight in Barca’s transfer bid for Coutinho

  Barcelona have confirmed that Andre Gomes will miss Monday night’s friendly against Chapecoense amid rumours he is being used as a makeweight in a deal for Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho.

The Catalan club are trying to seal a €100 million (£90m) move for the Brazilian, who they hope can fill the void left by Neymar after he completed a record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

And Mundo Deportivo claim Liverpool will try to use Barca’s desperation to conclude the deal to get one – or even two – players thrown into the deal for Coutinho.

Coutinho has apparently already agreed a five-year deal with the Catalan club (Picture: Getty)

Jurgen Klopp is said to be ‘loco’ for Gomes, who would reinforce the Reds’ midfield after they gave up on signing RB Leipzig star and No.1 target Naby Keita.
Gomes struggled to make an impression last season but remains highly rated, attracting interest from Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho earlier this summer.

Coutinho has apparently already agreed a five-year deal with the Catalan club (Picture: Getty)

New Barca boss Ernesto Valverde would be loath to offload a player he believes can be very useful next season, with many at the club feeling he is primed to ‘explode’ into life – though whether that will be at Anfield or Camp Nou remains to be seen.

It has also been suggested that Rafinha could be thrown into the deal too, though Liverpool are less sure about the 24-year-old due to his injury problems.


And now Barcelona have added further fuel to the rumours by announcing that Gomes will miss the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Chapecoense for ‘medical’ reasons, as will fellow in-demand teammate Thomas Vermaelen.
The Belgian has recently been linked with a shock return to the Premier League, with Ronald Koeman reportedly keen to bring the former Arsenal man to Everton this summer.