The rise of Philippe Coutinho as one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Premier League saw the Brazilian become subject of interest from many clubs around the world. He has played out of his skin for the last few years at Anfield and it is worrying for Liverpool fans to think the state of the team had he not been there last year and the year before.
The story of Coutinho’s rise became relevant in Catalonia when Barcelona lost his compatriot Neymar this season to Paris Saint Germain. The French club shocked the world by paying out the Brazilian’s release clause, a whopping £198m.
After losing Neymar, Barcelona looked for replacements for the Brazilian attacker. Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele and Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho emerged as the top targets. While Dembele joined Barcelona for a record €105m initial fee, with add-ons that can possibly take it to €147m, Liverpool closed the door on Barcelona’s chase for Coutinho.
It has been long since the summer window shut but Barcelona’s interest in the Brazilian is still very much alive. They are on top of the table but the misfiring Suarez and the injured Dembele has put all the pressure on Lionel Messi to deliver the goods at Nou Camp. Ernesto Valverde might bring in Coutinho in January to relieve Messi of his workload and slowly integrate Coutinho in the side to replace the ageing Iniesta.
The news in the Coutinho saga has now hit a new turn with French giants Paris Saint Germain now also interested in the Brazilian. PSG has assembled a super expensive squad with the likes of Neymar and Mbappe leading their frontline. However, it would seem that the French outfit, who made a mockery of FIFA Financial Fair Play rules in the summer, are set to continue on their path and invest again in buying further talent.
Coutinho’s move to Paris would certainly make already formidable French side nearly invincible but with the side already packed with quality attackers, it would seem that Coutinho might have to share his time on the pitch. Moreover, Coutinho is determined to leave Liverpool for only Barcelona and has reportedly asked Liverpool not to sell him to PSG. He wants no further complication or third party involvement in the already complicated deal with Barcelona.
A wise move, no doubt from the Barcelona, since he has a game that would suit the Catalan side very efficiently and integrate into the first team at Nou Camp would be a far less farcical matter than overcrowding the already jam-packed bench at Parc des Princes.
