Thiago Silva trying to convince Philippe Coutinho to join PSG

Thiago Silva has told Telefoot he used the recent international break to try and convince Brazil teammate Philippe Coutinho to team up with him and Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain.

Former Brazil captain Silva used his influence to help convince international teammate Neymar to leave Barcelona for PSG last summer for a world record €222 million.

Coutinho, who has scored three Premier League goals and laid on two more this season for Liverpool, was the subject of three rejected bids from Barcelona in the summer, with the Brazil international handing in a transfer request in an attempt to force a move to Spain.

But PSG captain Silva, who met up with Coutinho for friendlies with England and Japan this month, says he has been attemptting to convince Coutinho that his future lies in the French capital.

"I speak a lot to him. I hope that before the end of the season, even before, for Christmas, there could be a surprise for us," Silva said. "I hope he'll think things over carefully and next year he'll be working with us.

"I'm giving a lot of advice to him, but the main thing is that he's able to take the best decision for himself."

Meanwhile, Telefoot has claimed PSG are close to finalising their ambitions of bringing Fluminese midfielder Wendel to Parc des Princes.

Sources told ESPN FC last week that PSG were interested in signing the 20-year-old in January for €10 million.

"He's at a very high level in Brazil," PSG and Brazil defender Marquinhos told Telefoot. "He's a player who's ready to come to Europe. If he comes, we'll be here to help him with his adaptation. If he comes, he's a player who'll help us a lot."