According to Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs who have enquired about the availability of Philippe Coutinho in the summer. They are joined by Premier League rivals Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea in the pursuit of the Barcelona star who is currently at Bayern Munich on loan. However, Spurs, along with other interested parties, are not keen on a permanent move and instead, want a loan deal for Coutinho.
In this article, meanwhile, we will discuss three reasons why Jose Mourinho should not invest in the Brazilian this summer.
Philippe Coutinho has struggled at Bayern Munich
Coutinho joined Bayern Munich last summer in a season-long loan deal. It seemed like a sensible move, especially after an awful season at FC Barcelona. However, the Bavarians also signed Ivan Perisic on loan, and though the Croatian hasn’t been able to make a clear impact, Coutinho has been unlucky due to several reasons.
Indeed, the Brazilian playmaker has mustered just 1,386 minutes of league football. This is primarily due to the resurgence of Thomas Muller under new coach Hansi Flick. Moreover, Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry’s return to full fitness has also been detrimental to Coutinho’s overall game-time at Bayern.
As a result, the ex-Liverpool star has made only 15 starts in the league. He has done a decent job whenever he has been given a chance, but it’s nowhere near enough to convince Bayern to sign him permanently. And Coutinho’s struggles in the Bundesliga and La Liga should come as a warning for Tottenham Hotspur.
Tactically incompatible
Perhaps the most important issue why Tottenham should not get behind the potential signing of Coutinho is the tactical incompatibility Mourinho could face after his arrival.
One could argue that Coutinho would be a direct replacement for Christian Eriksen, who left the club to join Inter Milan in January. But, the Lilywhites already have two attacking midfielders in Giovani Lo Celso and Dele Alli.
Lo Celso, in particular, has done an extremely good job. In fact, he has arguably been Spurs’ best player since the turn of the year. The Argentine’s dynamism and tenacity have already added a new dimension to Tottenham’s attacking unit. But, the arrival of Coutinho could create a conflict, as far as team selection is concerned.
An expensive option
It is probably needless to point out that Coutinho is always going to be an expensive option. He is the highest-paid player in the Bundesliga, with Bayern providing a staggering £240k a week wage. And Spurs will have to pay a similar amount of money, if not more. It could take a toll on their financial structure, ultimately preventing them from investing in other quality individuals.
With that in mind, it is perhaps wiser for Mourinho to look at other alternatives in the market.
