Luis Suarez has confirmed that Barcelona want players like Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho as they are playing at the top level and is confident that his place will not be at risk if the Catalan giants sign the former.
Barcelona have been heavily linked with moves for the duo in recent weeks and could complete a double transfer in the upcoming January transfer window.
Griezmann was heavily
linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer but a move fell through after the forward decided to remain with Atletico Madrid after their transfer ban was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The 26-year-old Frenchman is not having his best season and has struggled to replicate the form from previous seasons. Despite that, he continues to be one of the most sought-after.
players and Barcelona are said to be ready to meet his €100m (£88.1m, $117.8m) release clause and the club's head of sporting and institutional relations Guillermo Amor refused to deny an approach had already been made.
Coutinho, meanwhile, has been on Barcelona's radar since the summer. The Catalan club were hoping to conclude a deal for the midfielder in the previous transfer window but were unable to do so after Liverpool rejected a number of offers.
The La Liga outfit, however, are not willing to give up and are hoping to complete the deal before the end of January. They are said to be ready to test the Merseyside club's resolve with a £114.7m offer in the hope of finally concluding a deal and taking the Brazil international to the Camp Nou.
Coutinho reaffirmed his commitment to the Reds at least for the moment as talks about a move to Barcelona refuse to die down. Liverpool CEO Peter Moore is still unsure about the Brazilian's future at the club and it remains to be seen if they will be as stubborn in January as they were in the summer, when they refused a number of big bids from Barcelona.
"Both Griezmann and Coutinho are elite players that are playing at the top level," Suarez was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
"They are where they are for a reason. They're both young and have long careers ahead of them. And Barca always want the best players," he added.
"If you look at [Greizmann], at Atletico he needs to play with a No 9," Suarez said addressing talks that he could lose his place in the Barcelona starting XI if the club sign Griezmann from Atletico.
"He's not a fixed No. 9. Obviously, Griezmann would come here to add to the team and to help the side in the position that the coach wants him to play in," the Uruguayan added.
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