Catalan giants, Barcelona have seemingly taken a stance regarding the future of one of their offensive options, Philippe Coutinho, in the upcoming transfer window.
Coutinho could not replicate the magic he produced during his time at Liverpool after he decided to join Barcelona in 2018. He had been a shadow of his Anfield image at Camp Nou which forced Barcelona to send him on loan to Bayern Munich, where he could not match expectations either.
Now, Barcelona boss Quique Setien is looking to offload the Brazilian star in exchange for £55 million cash and a defender according to Sport. Barcelona had already offered Coutinho to Juventus and AC Milan but have now turned their attention to Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur due to the two Serie A sides failing to meet their demands.
Philippe Coutinho himself wants a move back to the Premier League to get his career back on track and the report states that Barcelona have also started identifying centre-back and left-backs to ascertain their compatibility.
Initial Impression
At first glance, this seems to be a boon in disguise for Frank Lampard who seems to be set on a new left-back, and offloading Marcos Alonso seems inevitable if Chelsea are to grant Lampard his wish. But having already spent around £80 million on Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, another £55 million outlay for an offensive option would seem slightly ambitious on their part especially during an uncertain transfer window.
But looking at the quality they are getting from Spain in the deal could be too good to refuse. Coutinho’s potential in the Premier League is well-known and Chelsea would emerge a serious contender for the Premier League title if they manage to lineup that attack next season.
But if Lampard wants to get Coutinho, he might well have to forfeit his chase of Ben Chilwell, for whom the Foxes have already demanded around £85 million. The decision to take is trickier than it looks as both the moves could benefit the Blues in their own way. An attack comprising Pulisic, Ziyech, Coutinho, and Werner could set new levels at the Bridge while Chilwell will add defensive stability in an area that has often been exposed by fast-paced players.
Should Lampard Engage?
There is a slight doubt as to whether Philippe Coutinho can hit the same levels as his last Premier League stint. He was the most comfortable in the Premier League but the gameplay has evolved here as well, and the opposition will be more aware on how to deal with his threat now.
Lampard has struggled against the so-called bigger teams and much of it has been due to the defensive instability. There will be a temptation to try and land Coutinho and go hammer and tongs next season but it is highly unlikely the management will go in that direction.
As of now, Lampard should focus on trying to secure a reasonable deal for Ben Chilwell as his attacking contingent looks more than sorted provided the deal for Timo Wener crosses the finish line.