Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez has acknowledged the club are in a "very difficult situation" as they look to secure deals for Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele.
Barca's general manager, Pep Segura, said after Wednesday's Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid that they were "close" to securing deals for the duo, but Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said on Thursday there was "nothing new" on Coutinho and Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said the La Liga side have "not come a millimetre closer" to agreeing a deal for Dembele.
Robert, speaking as the club unveiled Paulinho, then said that it would be tough to bring in elite signings as they seek to rebuild after the departure of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain.