Everton learn price of Barcelona star who is also wanted by Arsenal and Spurs
Everton have been linked to Philippe Coutinho in the past. This winter transfer window is no different as the Toffees once again find themselves linked with the Brazilian. With Barcelona desperate to get Coutinho off their wage books, do Everton need to go for the former Liverpool man?
Xavi returned to Barcelona to save the European titan and steady the sinking ship. Barca wants to sign players and have managed to seal the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City. Given the cash crunch situation in the summer and €55 million spent on Torres, Barca will definitely need to offload players before making more additions. Coutinho, Samuel Umtiti, Luuk de Jong and Sergino Dest are regarded as expendables.
Amendments in the squad can be made if the outcasts are offloaded and Coutinho is nowhere close to fitting in Xavi’s plans. He was signed for £142 million and since then Coutinho’s stock has just seen a downward trajectory.
Barca have put Coutinho on the market and he’s available for a fraction of the price that the Catalans paid to Liverpool in 2018. A number of teams are keeping tabs on the Brazil international with Everton being one of them.
Everton learn the asking price for Philippe Coutinho
According to Spanish media outlet El Nacional, three clubs are in the mix for Coutinho. His agent, Kia Joorabchain, has excellent connections in England which opens door to a return to the Premier League. Tottenham Hotspur have shown interest in Coutinho meanwhile his agent also values the possibility of sending the 29 year old to Everton or Arsenal.
Spurs boss Antonio Conte has submitted an offer to sign the Brazilian on a free transfer and negotiate his wages. Newcastle United are also linked but the Samba star has refused to go to the Magpies.
Barca have put a price tag of £17 million and are unwilling to go below this price to close the deal. Coutinho is currently the highest wage earner at the club, earning a whopping £19.2 million per season in wages. The dent in Joan Laporta’s pocket is getting deeper and deeper and the only way to stop the outflow of cash is to sell Coutinho.
Does Everton need Philippe Coutinho?
Everton themselves are in a financially fragile situation which prohibited them from spending big in the summer transfer window. Rafa Benitez has indicated that the Toffees will make additions to the club in the January transfer window. Vitaliy Mykolenko has already been announced as the first signing of the winter transfer window, meanwhile, Nathan Patterson has been a player that Everton are following.
Lucas Digne and Cenk Tosun could leave the club, generating some cash. Even at £17 million, Coutinho’s deal could prove to be expensive especially for a player who was once regarded as a world beater but has now lost confidence and seems a typically average player.
Coutinho’s wage demands may pose a problem. Even if he’s willing to take a 50% wage cut, his weekly salary would be in excess of £200,000, easily eclipsing the current highest wage earner at Everton. Arsenal and Spurs stand a better chance of landing the Selecao star.
In the current setup, Coutinho doesn’t offer the best solutions. Everton have an average possession of 39.6%. Benitez’s troops rely on counter attacks and need lightning quick transitions and counter attack precision. Coutinho may not be the best man to offer the pace required.
Should Everton consider signing Philippe Coutinho?