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Barcelona 'open to Neymar, Philippe Coutinho swap deal'

Barca 'open to Neymar, Coutinho swap deal'
© Reuters
Barcelona would "seize upon" the opportunity to swap Philippe Coutinho with Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar, according to Spanish football expert Graham Hunter.

Barcelona are reportedly open to the idea of luring Neymar back to Camp Nou by offering Philippe Coutinho in return to Paris Saint-Germain.

Neymar pushed through a transfer to PSG in August 2017 for a record £198m fee, ending a successful four-year stint in Catalonia.

Despite his best attempts to play down a return to Barca, rumours are still abound that the Brazil international and his former club are keen on a reunion this summer.

Coutinho, meanwhile, has been linked with a move in the opposite direction after struggling to hold down a place in the starting lineup, being used from the off in just half of his side's La Liga fixtures this term.

According to Spanish football expert Graham Hunter, Barca would "seize upon" the opportunity to swap players later this year.

"[Barcelona] have great plans that if Neymar comes on the market, which is feasible because of his own personal preference and because PSG are still subject to stringent checks on whether they have or haven't breached Financial Fair Play," he told Sky Sports News.

"Philippe Coutinho was bought at a time when Barcelona were smarting from the way they had been treated by Neymar, they were short of answers, they set their hearts on the player and they wanted to give a very quick sop to their fans and sponsors.

"But it hasn't worked out the way in which either party fancied that it would. If there was an opportunity to do something with PSG, where Coutinho went to PSG and Neymar came back to the Camp Nou, then the people on the board would absolutely seize upon it."

Neymar is due to return to Ligue 1 action this weekend when PSG take on Guingamp at the Parc des Princes.

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Paris Saint-Germain attacker Neymar celebrates scoring against Liverpool on November 28, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid34238362214177
2Barcelona34227578364273
3Atletico MadridAtletico341614446252162
4Sevilla331512648331557
5Villarreal341661254441054
6Getafe341411942311153
7Real Sociedad33155135042850
8Athletic Bilbao341212103829948
9Valencia341211114350-747
10Granada34138134240247
11Osasuna341112114047-745
12Levante33126154146-542
13Real Valladolid34815112837-939
14Real Betis34911144455-1138
15AlavesAlaves3498173251-1935
16Celta Vigo34714133343-1035
17EibarEibar3398163450-1635
18Mallorca3485213559-2429
19Leganes34610182549-2428
20Espanyol3459202754-2724

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