Premier League clubs jostle for Barcelona’s Coutinho
Five Premier League clubs are battling to sign out-of-favour playmaker Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona this summer.
Chelsea, Manchester United, Leicester City Arsenal and Newcastle United are all said to be in the hunt for the Brazilian, as outlined by the front page of Thursday’s edition of El Mundo Deportivo.
Bayern Munich – where Coutinho is on a season-long loan arrangement from Barcelona – have an option to buy the Brazil international for €120m at the end of the campaign but multiple reports suggest this will not be exercised.
On Wednesday a report in ABC said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta views Coutinho as a ‘fundamental pillar to his project’ at the club and will insist upon his signing this summer.
It came on the same day that El Mundo Deportivo claimed that Newcastle have already spoken to Coutinho regarding a deal as they have made their interest official.
It is even claimed that Newcastle, who are hopeful of a Saudi-backed takeover being completed in the coming weeks, want Mauricio Pochettino – who managed Coutinho at Espanyol – to replace the club’s current boss Steve Bruce.
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Barcelona are said to be keen on selling the former Liverpool star this year to raise vital funds, while the player is said to have little interest in returning to Inter or joining Paris Saint-Germain and instead is keen on a move to England.
The Brazilian scored 21 goals in 76 outings for Barcelona after moving in a club record €160m fee from Liverpool in January 2018 but he has consistently flattered to deceive since.