MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 16:06:00| >> :60:413:413:

Arsenal 'handed boost in Philippe Coutinho pursuit'

Arsenal 'handed boost in Philippe Coutinho pursuit'
© Reuters
Barcelona reportedly want to sell Arsenal-linked Philippe Coutinho before he reaches 100 games for the club, after which they would have to pay Liverpool nearly £20m.

Arsenal could sign Philippe Coutinho for a cut-price figure due to Barcelona's need to sell the attacker this summer, according to a report.

The former Liverpool man has failed to live up to his £142m price tag in the three years that he has resided in Catalonia, and a serious knee injury has prevented him from making an impact under Ronald Koeman this term.

Furthermore, with Coutinho sitting on 90 appearances for the club, Liverpool are believed to be in line for a €20m (£17.2m) payment if their former player chalks up a century of games for the Catalan giants.

As a result, Mundo Deportivo claim that cash-strapped Barcelona want to offload Coutinho before he reaches that landmark appearance, and they are willing to take a hit on the nine-figure sum they forked out for him back in 2018.

The Gunners could therefore be on red alert this summer as they pursue a new creative midfielder, and Mikel Arteta could supposedly be tempted by a cut-price deal for Coutinho if they fail to land Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid on a permanent basis.

Coutinho scored two goals and provided two assists in 12 La Liga appearances for Barca earlier in the season, but he is expected to overcome his injury before the campaign concludes.

ID:440152:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect2618:
Written by
Ben Knapton

Philippe Coutinho future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Philippe Coutinho

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Erling Braut Haaland in action for Borussia Dortmund on March 20, 2021
Read Next:
Ronald Koeman responds to Erling Braut Haaland rumours
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!