For a team like Barcelona, winning trophies is not a choice but a compulsion, for they are unarguably one of the most sought after football clubs in the world with unparallel ambitions. However, under the tutelage of Luis Enrique, they didn’t look very convincing and Copa del Rey was the only silverware which they could manage to earn last season.
Enrique had to step down and this paved the way for Ernesto Valverde to take the command of the ship and one of the basic things he has to do is to reconstruct Blaugrana into a formidable and monstrous side with loopholes next to none. Liverpool’s Phillipe Coutinho is someone who is targeted by Valverde, but they saw their £72million bid getting rejected by the Premier League outfit a few days ago.
However, the Spanish giants are reluctant to give up their hopes of luring Coutinho to Camp Nou and are ready to mount pressure on the Reds by making a £90million bid, as per one of the latest reports. Barca see the 25-year-old as a long term replacement for Andreas Iniesta and their knack to make him sign on the dotted line does make a lot of sense.
Coutinho is a player of exceptional calibre and his success in the English top flight has made him an appealing target in the transfer window. Ever since he made a move to Anfield in the January transfer window of 2013, his stocks have risen massively, owing to the fact that he cemented his place in his side and has played an instrumental role in dictating the offensive firepower of Liverpool.
Last season in the Premier League, the Brazilian international accumulated 31 appearances to his name, whilst which he banged 13 goals and registered 7 assists with a decent pass accuracy of 83.9%. His 2.1 key passes per game on an average in the previous campaign is a testament to his involvement in the game and the cutting edge he renders to Jurgen Klopp’s outfit, which is simply invigorating.
A left winger by nature, Coutinho is capable of plying his trade as a central midfielder as well, possesses excellent dribbling skills and he loves to cut inside and test the oppositions’ goalkeepers. Besides, he is prolific with the set-pieces, keeps the game ticking in the final third with his passes, has the vision and technical edge and he himself is interested to join Lionel Messi & co., which gives Barcelona the upper hand with respect to signing this magician.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
