Xavi criticises Barcelona's transfer activity

Xavi recently spoke to Spanish publication 'Marca' and said, ‘they have gone to sleep because five or six years ago they had the best players in the world for the system that they wanted to play. Now for that system they have five or six who fit the system but they need 11 to make it work. 

'Before you would never see a player and think: “He would be good at Barca,” because they were all there already. They have signed players who do not fit the system.’

Barcelona have one of the best youth academies in the world, La Masia, and the 37-year-old does not understand why the club are failing to use it.

He added, ‘When in doubt use the players coming through. Thiago Alcantara left and had every right to because he was not getting the chances.’

The Catalan club lost Neymar to PSG in a world record £198m move and despite completing the signing of Ousmane Dembele, have largely failed in their attempts to strengthen the squad.

Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho now looks set to stay at Anfield after the Reds played hardball and rejected three huge offers, the last coming in at a colossal £114m.

Ernesto Valverde's side have until this evening to complete any more deals.