According to Sky Sports, Mauricio Pochettino has contacted Philippe Coutinho over the phone in an attempt to convince him to join Tottenham Hotspur. The Brazilian ace has been linked with a move away from Barcelona, and a move to Premier League could be on the horizon, with Arsenal and Spurs reportedly interested. Pochettino, in particular, is keen to add Coutinho to his squad amid speculations linking Eriksen to a move to Manchester United.
Coutinho’s struggles at Barcelona
Coutinho joined Barcelona from Liverpool at the start of last year for a whopping €145 million. He was a star in the Premier League, having been involved in 78 goals in 152 matches with the Reds.
However, the former Inter Milan star struggled to replicate his performances in La Liga. His tally of eight goals and five assists were relatively decent. But, it was his performances in the 2018/19 campaign that led to his role being limited in Catalonia.
Indeed, Coutinho scored only five goals in 34 matches last season. He also provided only two assists. As a result, the 27-year-old moved behind Ousmane Dembele in the pecking order. And with Barcelona keen on re-signing Neymar from PSG, Coutinho has been deemed surplus to the requirements by Ernesto Valverde.
Tottenham are an ideal suitor
A return to Premier League could offer Coutino the opportunity to redeem himself after a disappointing spell in Barcelona. And Tottenham, in that regard, are the ideal suitor for the Brazilian international for multiple reasons.
Firstly, as mentioned earlier, the Lilywhites are preparing for life without Eriksen. The Danish international has reportedly agreed personal terms with Manchester United. And his departure could make way for Coutinho to become a vital part of the Tottenham attack.
Another critical reason why Coutinho should move to Spurs is that they will be able to offer him Champions League football. This is something neither Arsenal nor Manchester United can offer, with both having finished outside the top four last season. Spurs, in contrast, were edged out by Liverpool in the final of the coveted tournament.
They are expected to make a significant impact in Europe once again while the Lilywhites are also tipped to be a strong contender for the Premier League. Coutinho, in that regard, should enhance the overall quality of the Tottenham side as the North London giants aspire to become one of the powerhouses of European football.
That being said, the transfer market in England slams shut tomorrow afternoon, which means Tottenham must move fast if they are to secure the services of this Barcelona superstar.
