Luiz Felipe Scolari dismisses Paulinho to Barcelona speculation – ESPN FC

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Luiz Felipe Scolari has played down speculation Paulinho will join Barcelona during the summer transfer window as finding a replacement for the former Tottenham Hotspur man would be too expensive.

Paulinho joined Guangzhou at the start of 2016 after an indifferent spell at Tottenham Hotspur and the 28-year-old has impressed, winning two Chinese Super League titles, the Asian Champions League and the Chinese FA Cup since joining the club.

His form has attracted the attention of Barca, but with new regulations in place governing the fees paid by Chinese clubs for foreign talent prompting them to halt their spending in the current transfer window, Scolari does not believe Guangzhou will be prepared to allow Paulinho to leave.

"His release clause costs 40 million and none of the Chinese clubs will let their key players go now because it would be difficult and expensive to find a replacement due to the new rules," Scolari said.

Paulinho signed a new contract with the club at the start of the season and he has since regained his place in the Brazil national team, with his goals helping the Selecao become the first to secure their place at next year's World Cup finals in Russia.

He has been instrumental in the club racing to the top of the Chinese Super League standings and booking a place in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League, where they will meet fellow Chinese side Shanghai SIPG.

Finding a replacement for such an integral part of his team would not only be difficult but would be expensive under the new rules, which see clubs hit with a 100 percent levy on transfers over RMB 45 million (5m) if the club is deemed to be in debt by the Chinese Football Association.

Paulinho confirmed at the weekend that Barcelona had made enquiries about signing him, but the midfielder said he was conflicted.

"[Barcelona] contacted my agent," he told Globo Esporte. "There is an offer, but in life and also in my career I find myself at a very happy stage now. When you are at such a stage, it's difficult to make a decision.

"I need to weigh many things and then make up my mind. One of the critical factors is my happiness. I think firstly my wife and I are very happy in China, we like it here and we like the people."

Michael Church has written about Asian football for more than 20 years and mainly covers the Chinese game for ESPN FC. Twitter: @michaelrgchurch

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Luiz Felipe Scolari dismisses Paulinho to Barcelona speculation - ESPN FC