Barcelona are working hard to get unwanted Brazil playmaker Philippe Coutinho off their wage bill and allow winter buy Ferran Torres to be registered, according to reports.

Coutinho, 29, has proved an expensive flop since January 2018’s club-record £147 million switch from Liverpool. The Catalans hope a loan switch, ideally with an obligatory purchase option, can be agreed with a list of Premier League suitors, headed by former club-mate Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.

SPORT state such a departure would free up space on the wage bill and allow £46.3m addition Torres to play for his new club, courtesy of La Liga’s own financial fair play rules.

Coutinho has recorded 25 goals and 14 assists in 106 run-outs for Barca. He spent 2019/20 on loan at Bayern Munich.