Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Philippe Coutinho, who is unwanted at Barcelona beyond January.
According to Sunday Mirror, as relayed by HITC, Tottenham could have the opportunity to sign Philippe Coutinho in the January transfer window as the Brazilian’s time at Barcelona seems to be coming to a close.
Coutinho’s stint at Camp Nou has been reflective of Barcelona’s problems under disgraced former president Josep Maria Bartomeu. The then supremo of the club decided to squander away the huge funds received through the transfer of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain by making some questionable signings.
Barcelona have largely gone without success since Neymar’s departure, but there were high expectations placed on Philippe Coutinho’s shoulders following his big-money move from Liverpool. The attacking midfielder completely flopped at Barcelona and has been tipped to leave the club for some time now.
Ironically, he achieved success on loan at Bayern Munich, helping the German side win the treble in the 2019/20 season, including domestic titles and the Champions League. The Bundesliga giants even demolished Barcelona 8-2 en route to final, with Coutinho coming off the bench to score a late brace.
However, in light of recent changes at the club and the appointment of former midfielder Xavi Hernandez as their new manager, Barcelona may be ready to offload the Brazilian playmaker. They want to free up his wages and secure funds to pursue other prospective targets through his sale.
Manchester City’s Ferran Torres is linked with a move, although the Spaniard will cost around €70 million in January. Hence, to free up space and funds, Barcelona have offered players, including Coutinho, to Premier League outfits like Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspurs.
While Coutinho is reportedly uninterested in moving to Newcastle, he could yet be tempted to join Tottenham if an opportunity presents itself. For the Magpies, his current salary of £325,000-per-week may not have been a problem. However, Spurs might find it difficult to meet those demands.
But from a sporting perspective, Coutinho could become a valuable asset for Antonio Conte to add to his squad, with the north Londoners harbouring hopes of finishing in the top four. As things stand, Tottenham cannot match his salary package and hence, might bow out of the race to sign the attacker.
Barcelona will have to take a massive hit on their asking price for Coutinho to find a prospective buyer. After all, some Premier League clubs might still rate him. It remains to be seen if Tottenham take up the option of signing the Barcelona outcast this winter.
