Tottenham Hotspur has joined the race to sign Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho as reported by Mundo Deportivo. It is reported that he likes the sporting project of the Spurs under Antonio Conte.
Coutinho has been through another difficult season at the Nou Camp since his return from a loan spell in Bayern. He has failed to be consistent with his performances as a key component of Barca’s attack.
Moreover, the ex-Liverpool sensation has made 16 appearances for the Catalan giants this season. He has managed to score two goals in the process across various competitions.
The 29-year-old has seen most of his playing chances come off the bench and has suffered from a lot of injuries. As a result, Barca is eager to get him off their wage bill during this January transfer window.
However, Coutinho can cause a menace for any defence because of his dribbling ability and playmaking. He has the ability to make dangerous runs with the ball and can set up chances for his teammates to score.
Although, his frequent injuries have hindered his progress in recent seasons. As a result, there are some question marks if his return to the Premier League will be a success story.
Possibility of signing
Coutinho knows English football well from his time at Liverpool and Tottenham could be a good place for him. However, he is not the same player he once used to be. The 29-year-old seems like a shadow of his former self and could struggle to be productive for the Spurs. Therefore, Conte should be aware of the consequences of signing the Brazilian playmaker.
Other than Tottenham two more Premier League clubs want the Brazilian in their side. Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also monitoring the Brazilian’s situation.
In any case, Barcelona is ready to bid adieu to the 29-year-old Brazilian and free up his mammoth salary cap. The Brazilian ace signed for Barcelona for a huge amount of $180m. But his market value is now low and other clubs can sign him for an amount as low as $20m.
