According to a recent print edition of Sport (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness), Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a loan move for Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho whose current loan spell at Bayern Munich is set to expire at the end of this month. The same source has also mentioned that Spurs are interested in acquiring his services on loan, but will have to pay a loan fee to Barca as well as cover the full costs of the Brazilian’s wages if they are to land him temporarily this summer (via Sport Witness).
Coutinho’s Rollercoaster Loan Spell At Bayern Munich This Season
The former Premier League playmaker has experienced a season of mixed emotions at the Allianz Arena so far after struggling to produce a run of consistent performances as a part of Hans-Dieter Flick’s attack over the past ten months.
Despite his lack of consistency, Coutinho deserves some credit for netting nine goals while providing eight assists in 32 appearances for the Bavarian giants this term across multiple competitions. His numbers showcase his knack for scoring and creating goals for the German outfit in the attacking third. However, he is yet to hit the heights that he had once displayed at Liverpool.
The South American maestro is currently out with an ankle injury, so it is unlikely that he will feature for Bayern again this season. The 28-year-old has averaged 2.6 shots, 1.4 key passes and 1.5 dribbles per game in the Bundesliga during this campaign. Coutinho has produced slightly better numbers in Europe where he has averaged 3.9 shots, 1.7 key passes and 2.3 dribbles in every 90 minutes of football in the UEFA Champions League so far (stats via whoscored).
The Vasco da Gama youth product has also featured in 61 international matches for the Brazilian national side, registering 17 goals for his country in the process. Brazil boss Tite will hope that Coutinho can rediscover his old form in the upcoming campaign so that he is in good nick heading into the Copa America next year.
What Will The Brazilian Midfield Ace Bring To North London?
Coutinho is a master technician who can complete some dangerous dribbles with the ball in the opposition half. He possesses sensational ball-control, composure and trickery that he can use to get the better of his marker in the final third. The Brazil international has a low centre of gravity and can make a few clever turns in and around the opposition penalty box. He is also quite proficient at orchestrating some decent goal-scoring chances for his teammates up top.
Plus, Coutinho is a specialist from dead-ball situations and can strike the ball with a lot of power but with minimal backlift, which explains how he has scored so many long-range stunners during his playing career. No doubt recruiting someone of Coutinho’s quality and technical prowess, even if it is on a loan deal, will be a massive coup for Jose Mourinho this summer. He will not only add a lot of goals and creativity to the Tottenham attack but also improve the overall quality of their starting XI.
Is Coutinho The Right Choice For Mourinho?
We can also expect Coutinho to be a significant upgrade over Dele Alli, Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso at North London. All in all, the Brazilian midfield orchestrator will be an excellent temporary addition to the Spurs squad as he will be able to help them challenge for some significant silverware next season.
