Results have masked Barcelona’s need for Coutinho

Barcelona travel to Real Madrid for Saturday’s Clasico with an 11-point advantage in the La Liga table, but with many around the club still feeling they must move seriously to sign Liverpool schemer Philippe Coutinho as soon as next month regardless of the result at the Bernabeu.

Barca are very likely to spend in January’s transfer window, with cash on hand after the world record €222m fee received last summer from Neymar’s shock exit for Paris Saint Germain.

While about half was quickly spent on young winger Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund, the France international was almost immediately injured and has not played since.