Philippe Coutinho’s future with Barcelona is going south after his dismal performance this season. His lacklustre showing on the field led him to be dropped to the bench most of the time.
Potential suitors will have to prepare at least £100 million if they want to land the Brazilian this summer. Barcelona are reportedly trying to recoup most of the expenses they incurred when purchasing Coutinho for £142 million from Liverpool last year.
Interested teams include Chelsea, who have shown a keen interest as they try to look for someone to replace Eden Hazard. The Belgian winger is set to make his move to Bernabeau next month. His departure leaves a big void in Chelsea’s lineup.
However, the Blues are facing a transfer ban and will only be able to sign potential players if they can overturn the sanction imposed on them.
Chelsea have been slapped with the penalty of not being able to bring in players for the next two transfer windows. The club will, however, appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Meanwhile, pundit Phil Thompson has said that the Reds should look into the possibility of acquiring their former talisman. In an interview with Sky Sports, Thompson said that he would love to have Coutinho at Anfield and it has to be now. Coutinho parted ways with the Reds just little under 18 months. He was expected to make an impact with Barca but struggled to make his presence felt.
With Hazard’s imminent departure from Stamford Bridge to Real Madrid, Coutinho’s level of creativity in the middle could just be the thing that Chelsea need to fill the gap that the Belgian will leave behind.
