Barcelona are looking to offload playmaker Philippe Coutinho this summer in order to cut costs, and Leicester City are reportedly showing interest to sign the Brazil international.
Coutinho has failed to justify his £142 million price tag since joining Barcelona in 2018, with injuries and poor form limiting his time on the pitch.
The club are now keen to cut their losses and offload him this summer. Barcelona will reportedly have to pay Liverpool an additional €20 million if Coutinho makes another 10 appearances and the Catalans are keen to ship out the 29-year-old before that happens.
Leicester City, meanwhile, are looking to bolster their squad ahead of a top-four push next season. While they could secure Coutinho for as little as £20 million, his wages could prove to be a stumbling block in any potential deal as per Sport.
Can Philippe Coutinho’s arrival propel Leicester City into the Champions League?
A move to Leicester City would provide Philippe Coutinho with an opportunity to resurrect his stalling career. It would also reunite him with Brendan Rodgers, who brought the best out of the Brazilian during his spell at Liverpool.
🚨| Philippe Coutinho is very close to being 100% fit and will arrive in Barcelona soon. The club will meet with the player's agents and both parties want to look for a way out. So far, Leicester City, Inter Milan and AC Milan have shown their interest.@tjuanmarti [🥇] pic.twitter.com/FQpgeEbcOI
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) July 8, 2021
At Liverpool, Coutinho developed into one of the finest creative midfielders in the world. While he has since fallen off the radar, reuniting with his former boss could spark him into life once again.
Coutinho is a speedy dribbler who can beat defenders with his quick feet and agility. He also has the ability to carve open defences with his pinpoint passes. More than handy in front of goal, the 29-year-old can also chip in with a few important strikes.
The 29-year-old’s arrival would undoubtedly take the creative burden off James Maddison and he will also add plenty of big-match experience to a side that sorely lacked it towards the closing stages of last season.
Leicester City narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification the last two campaigns and the arrival of Coutinho should enable them to get that monkey off their back.
However, the Foxes could face competition for his services, with a number of Italian clubs also interested in signing Coutinho.
