Manchester City 'rejected chance to sign Philippe Coutinho'

Manchester City reportedly turned down the chance to sign Brazilian attacker Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona during the summer transfer window.

The 27-year-old was linked with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur before eventually joining Bayern Munich on loan.

Coutinho is due to spend the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign with the Bundesliga giants ahead of a potential permanent move at the end of the season.

According to TV3, City were actually offered the chance to sign the South American, who has struggled to show his best form for Barca since arriving from Liverpool.

However, the report claims that Citizens head coach Pep Guardiola told his club to turn down the opportunity to bring Coutinho to the Etihad Stadium.

The playmaker has featured in Bayern's last two Bundesliga matches against Schalke 04 and Mainz 05.