Barcelona star open to an exit: Chelsea should pounce if the transfer ban is lifted

Chelsea could be the next destination for the Barcelona attacker Philippe Coutinho, if the transfer ban imposed on the Blues is lifted or postponed.

According to expert Duncan Castles, cited by the Daily Express, the Brazilian is open to a move away from the Camp Nou, and has garnered interest from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.

Paris Saint-Germain are also keeping tabs on the 27-year-old. However, Coutinho favours a return to the Premier League, which would put Chelsea in a good position should the Blues be successful in evading the transfer ban.

Should Chelsea make a move for Philippe Coutinho?

Although Coutinho’s flexibility to feature as a left-sided midfielder or as a number 10 is a bonus for the team, it’s best if Chelsea build the team around him and give him a central role.

The difference is visible when one compares his displays for Barcelona and Brazil. Coutinho scored 11 goals and assisted 5 in 54 appearances his club across all competitions last term.

However, for Brazil, he managed 2 goals and 2 assists in 5 appearances in the 2018 World Cup, and has already scored twice in the on-going Copa America.

While his defensive contributions remain subpar, the 27-year-old contributes heavily in the attacking half. Coutinho averaged 2.5 shots, 1.3 key passes and 1.2 long balls per 90 minutes across all competitions this past season.

The Brazilian’s pass success rate of 87.9% means he is pretty efficient with his link-up play and distribution, while his 1.6 dribbles per game highlight his ability to take on defenders and beat them with a trick or two.

The Blaugrana midfielder can also produce the goods from set-pieces, and is pretty good with his shooting prowess from outside the penalty box.

The departure of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid means the Blues will miss a bit of creativity in the final third. Coutinho can fill the Hazard shaped hole in the Chelsea lineup, as he was a top player at Liverpool before his move to Camp Nou.

The breakup between Maurizio Sarri and Chelsea will see a new coach arriving at Stamford Bridge in the coming days. The Blues must tread carefully with the signing of Coutinho who is low on confidence and could become a liability if used in the right setup, though.

Stat Courtesy: TransfermarktWhoscored

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