Speaking to Football Insider, pundit Noel Whelan has hinted that Spurs should sign Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho this summer – claiming that he could be available for a ‘very, very good price‘ as the Catalans look to offload.
Coutinho, who has spent this season on loan at Bayern Munich, scoring eight Bundesliga goals and assisting six others from midfield, doesn’t look like he will make his stay in Bavaria permanent – with Spurs now potentially gifted an opportunity to take him on a loan-to-buy option.
The 62-cap Brazilian is arguably a proven Premier League star, having made 201 appearances for Liverpool during his tenure in England while bagging an impressive tally of 54 strikes and 45 assists according to Transfermarkt.
Should Spurs sign Coutinho?
Yes, proven player
No, he's finished
Speaking to Sky Sports via the Evening Standard, Reds legend Phil Thompson labelled Coutinho as a ‘creative genius’ and would take him back to Anfield in a ‘heartbeat’ – but Spurs could now have the chance to swoop in and land the 27-year-old for a good price.
Coutinho hasn’t exactly lived up to his eye-watering £142 million price tag since signing for Barcelona, admitting himself to Marca that his form had been ‘poor’ over the 2018/2019 season – his last full campaign at the Nou Camp.
However, given his past accolades, ex-striker Noel Whelan has hinted that Spurs would still have a ‘world beater’ on their hands if Daniel Levy took the plunge.
“There is a great deal to be had there on a fantastic player,” exclaimed the pundit to Football Insider.
“No one has got the best out of him since he left Liverpool but there is a player there, a good creative player.
“If you can get that same ability that he had at Liverpool, you have a world-beater on your hands and you can get him for a very, very good price.
“It has got to be the right club. Tottenham, Arsenal or Chelsea would suit him down to the ground.”
Indeed, taking into account Whelan’s enthusiasm over the would-be deal, we could be looking at a creative coup – the only question being whether Levy initiates negotiations.