According to the latest reports from the Express Live transfer blog (8:05), Manchester United target Philippe Coutinho will turn down any proposals from the Manchester club out of respect for Liverpool. The Brazilian is considered as a long term target for the Red Devils, and they might have gone for him if someone like Paul Pogba left the club in the summer.
However, that is now out of the picture as the Express reports that Coutinho will only have an eye for an Anfield move if he heads back to the Premier League.
The former Inter Milan player has failed to settle in at Barcelona after his big-money move from Liverpool. The fans have also turned on him as his name was often booed in the Camp Nou. Amidst all this, reports started emerging that Manchester United might give him a way back to the Premier League.
The Norwegian manager have a lot of problem areas to solve in this transfer window, and he was handed a huge bomb when Paul Pogba revealed that he wants a new challenge. The Frenchman’s future is still very much uncertain, and it remains to be seen what would transpire in the transfer window.
What can Coutinho bring at Old Trafford?
Coutinho could be a top replacement for someone like Pogba as he has already tasted success in the Premier League. The 27-year-old was known for his long-range strikes from the edge of the box. Apart from that, Coutinho can also open up defences with his passing range. His quick feet and dribbling skills enable him to get out of tight spaces, and the Brazilian is also known as a hard worker off the ball.
Is it a big blow for United and what next?
It was always going to be a longshot for the Manchester heavyweights to sign Coutinho as Barcelona are unlikely to sell him cheap after signing him for big money not too long ago. Ideally, Solskjær should want to keep hold of Pogba, but he has been a disruptive influence in the team in the past year. United need to come to a decision quickly if they decide to sell Pogba as they would need to do some proper work in the transfer market to look for his replacement.
With no Champions League football to offer, prospective players might be slightly sceptical about joining United. Therefore, the best bet for Ole would be to keep hold of Pogba. However, it is never ideal for the club to keep hold of a player whose heart is set on a move away. Therefore the fallen Manchester giants are in a bit of a muck currently.
