Tottenham Hotspur are ‘probably leading the race’ to sign Brazil international Phillipe Coutinho in a summer transfer from FC Barcelona, according to the Daily Mail.
It is suggested Spurs have moved into the lead of a five-club race to land Coutinho’s signature this summer, after the 28-year-old became ‘exiled’ at the Camp Nou and left needing a new club two-and-half-years on from his £145million arrival.
Coutinho’s agent Kia Joorabchian has admitted that there is ‘genuine interest’ from several Premier League sides, who could either sign the playmaker in a permanent deal or on loan should the terms satisfy Barca’s hierarchy.
Jose Mourinho’s presence in north London is seen as a big factor as to why Tottenham would present such an appealing option, as players will still jump at the chance to work with the Portuguese tactician despite Spurs enduring a challenging 2019/20 campaign.
Tottenham’s hope of retaining Harry Kane may also be boosted with the arrival of Coutinho, as the Brazilian joining would be seen as the club moving in the right direction to win their first piece of silverware since the 2007/08 League Cup.
Coutinho spent last season on loan in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, for whom the £50.4million-rated ace played just 1,414 league minutes over 23 appearances that featured eight goals and six assists before suffering with ankle problems.
Coutinho’s goal involvement aided Bayern’s title-clinching season, in which only Robert Lewandowski (34) and Serge Gnabry (12) found the back of the net more often and only Thomas Muller (21), Gnabry (10) and Joshua Kimmich (seven) provided more assists.
Reports emerged last week that in Barcelona’s efforts to offload Coutinho he was offered to both Tottenham and north London rivals Arsenal, who responded by putting forward midfielder Matteo Guendouzi in a player plus £9m deal in the hope of a permanent transfer.
The same report claimed Spurs’ efforts to seal a transfer may be hindered by Chairman Daniel Levy wishing to focus his side’s spending on younger players.
Would you sign Coutinho this summer?
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The Daily Mail add that Coutinho is believed to need convincing of a move to Arsenal, who may not have the financial clout to seal a move for the Brazilian – supporting the previous reports suggesting the Gunners offered Guendouzi in part-exchange.
Chelsea also appear to be out of the running for the former Liverpool playmaker, with the Blues instead turning their efforts towards a potential deal for Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid Kai Havertz following the arrivals of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Leicester City had the potential to emerge as a serious front runner had they qualified for next season’s Champions League, but falling out of the top-four is expected to dent the Foxes’ hopes even if manager Brendan Rodgers will not let his side’s Europa League future deter him.
Newcastle United will at least pose little to no threat after the proposed takeover of the club by a Saudi-led consortium fell through, leaving the Magpies’ star-studded shortlist a distant dream without a shock turnaround.