According to El Nacional, Arsenal are among clubs interested in Philippe Coutinho. The Barcelona attacker is facing an uncertain future in Catalonia, with the club open to offloading him in the upcoming January transfer window. The possibility of a loan move back to Anfield is being explored, but the Reds are set to face stiff competition from North London duo Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Philippe Coutinho’s Struggles At Barcelona
Philippe Coutinho has had to endure a steady decline since his big-money move to Barcelona in January 2018. His career in Spain has been marred by injuries, lack of form and not enough game-time, with the attacker clearly struggling to live up to the soaring expectations of the Barca fans.
Already in his fifth season in Catalonia, the former Inter Milan forward has featured in 93 competitive matches, scoring 23 goals. It appears the club is reluctant on playing him much this season, as there is a clause in his contract that would force the Blaugrana to shell out €20 million to his former club Liverpool.
It has even had a massive impact on his role at Barca, with the Brazilian falling behind the pecking order even after the exit of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann in the summer. His importance in the team will diminish further when the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati returns to full fitness later this season.
Is Coutinho A Good Option For Arsenal?
Arsenal are on the lookout for attacking reinforcements after a slow start to the campaign. Despite a run of three successive wins in all competitions, it is evident that the Gunners lack creativity going forward.
Coutinho, to that end, might be a smart fix as the Brazilian offers pedigree at the highest level of football. He has Premier League experience as well, having been involved in 78 goals in 152 league matches during his time at Liverpool.
However, the Barcelona attacker has endured a steady decline as well as struggling from injuries over the last couple of years. It makes him a risky option for Arsenal, who simply cannot gamble too much having already spent a fortune for Nicolas Pepe a few years ago.
Coutinho’s hefty wages could add to the club’s misery in the financial department, with the Gunners already struggling with the lucrative contracts of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. Hence, they should shift their attention to other alternatives, preferably one who has shown a lot of promise in recent years.
