According to reports, Manchester City could make a massive statement in the summer by signing Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho, who is currently on loan at Bayern Munich. Coutinho played one-and-a-half seasons with Barca after moving to Liverpool for a huge transfer fee of around £142 million, when he signed for them in January 2018.
As per Daily Express, Barcelona will allow him to leave for a much-reduced fee of £77 million in the summer. The likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and former club Liverpool are also reportedly interested in signing him apart from City. Bayern, where he is on loan currently, have the option to sign him for £102 million at the end of his loan.
Philippe Coutinho has scored 7 times and provided 8 assists this season for Bayern in 27 appearances in all competitions. The Brazilian international still has three years remaining on his current deal at Barcelona but his future in Spain is clouded in uncertainty now with Barcelona expected to move in an altogether different direction under Setien in the summer.
Philippe Coutinho: Top option for Pep?
It’s quite clear that Pep Guardiola has to freshen things up at Manchester City in the summer, with defence being the priority. But, the club also need a few players in the attacking areas of the pitch, especially a replacement for the outgoing David Silva, who is set to leave the club after ten glorious seasons.
Philippe Coutinho could be a very good signing for Manchester City and could be a direct replacement for Silva in the City midfield. The 27-year-old is a player who has fantastic dribbling ability, as well as the vision to pick out key passes to his teammates, while also possessing an eye for goal. A technically-gifted player, Coutinho’s exceptional form with Liverpool earned him a move to Barcelona, and if he recaptures that good form for City, he could help them challenge his former team in the Premier League.
The Brazilian still has a number of years remaining at the top as he only turns 28 later this year, and with his vast experience of playing in the Premier League, he could adapt to the City team quickly. The Sky Blues need an experienced figure in the middle who has the creativity and the ability to dictate the tempo of the game like David Silva, and Philippe Coutinho could very well be that player.
£77 million seems like a reasonable amount for a world-class player like him and despite his recent slump in stature, Pep Guardiola is someone who can take him back to the pinnacle.
