FC Barcelona have offered Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal the chance to sign Brazil international Phillipe Coutinho this summer, according to the Independent.
Barcelona are actively looking to offload Coutinho during the summer transfer window ahead of his return to Catalunya after a season-long loan spell with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Coutinho provided a hand in 14 goals as Bayern lifted the German top-flight title for an eighth-straight campaign, with the 28-year-old netting eight times and providing six assists despite starting just 15 of his 23 appearances.
The former Liverpool playmaker missed a majority of Bayern’s fixtures following the resumption of the 2019/20 campaign through an ankle injury but returned for the final matchday of the term.
He could next line up in the white of Tottenham or red of Arsenal rather than the red and blue of Barcelona having been offered to the two north London sides, though it is suggested that the Gunners represent the more likely destination at present.
Arsenal’s hierarchy are weighing up their options to reshape Mikel Arteta’s side and are willing to include outcasted midfielder Matteo Guendouzi in a deal for Coutinho, after the Gunners boss decided he wants the Frenchman out of his squad regardless.
A possible option for Arsenal includes sending Guendouzi to Barcelona along with a £9million cash fee while Coutinho will move in the opposite direction on a permanent deal.
Spurs are also interested in Coutinho and have been offered the £50.4million-rated ace, but Chairman Daniel Levy is insistent on spending what funds are available on younger players – potentially putting a block on the Barcelona creator joining Jose Mourinho’s squad.
Would you sign Coutinho this summer?
Yes
No
While Coutinho had a hand in 14 Bundesliga goals during his campaign with Bayern Munich, his time on the field was minimal to the point the 28-year-old played just 1,414 minutes or 48% of what was available to him.
The 62-cap international, who Barcelona signed from Liverpool for £142m in 2018, also missed seven big chances to score, produced 0.3 goals per game from 2.0 shots, played on average just 1.3 key balls, delivered 0.3 accurate crosses (17%), lost possession 10.8 times and lost 46% of his duels, per Sofa Score data.