The four young hotshots Barca are considering as alternatives to Coutinho

Spanish publication 'Sport' reports that whilst club bigwigs continue to do their best to bring the Samba star to the club, manager Ernesto Valverde has outlined several alternatives.

The players Valverde is considering are largely young starlets, whose lack of experience would allow Barca to bring them in for considerably less than it would cost for an established star.

Kai Havertz, Leon Goretzka, Arthur and Houssem Aouar are the young players in Barca's sights according to the aforementioned source, as Barca continue their attempts to freshen up their midfield.

Goretzka is a name that has been linked with a number of top clubs of late and with his contract due to expire at the end of the season someone is going to get a bargain.

However, Liverpool appear to be closing in on the German, meaning Barca may be forced to look elsewhere.

At just 18, Havertz is another player who has been making waves in the Bundesliga of late. Despite his tender years, the attacking midfielder already has almost 50 games under his belt for Bayer Leverkusen and has established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet so far this season, starting 10 out of a poosible 16 Bundesliga games and weighing in with one goal and five assists. Havertz is Leverkusen's youngest ever Bundesliga debutant and youngest ever goalscorer and big things are expected of the man who has scored six goals in just five games for Germany's U19 side.

Meanwhile, reports in France suggest that Barca are keeping a close eye on Lyon's Houssem Aouar. Like Havertz, 19-year-old Aouar has forced his way into the first team this season, starting Lyon's last 11 Ligue 1 games. The France U21 international has also gained valuable European experience in the Europa League and has scored four goals and laid on three assists in 19 games in all competitions so far this campaign.

Finally, a name that every Barca fan is already aware of: Arthur. The Gremio midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to the Camp Nou and was even pictured in a Barcelona shirt following a meeting with club chiefs, though that didn't go down well with his club, who are adamant that the player will not be allowed to leave for less than his €50m release clause.

Arthur's style of play has been compared to that of Barca legend Andres Iniesta, leading to suggestions that the Brazilian could be the perfect man to replace the veteran in the Barca engine room.