As per a report from Spanish publication Sport, Arsenal are yet to make any firm offer for Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian moved to the Catalan giants after a hugely successful spell in England with Liverpool. Unable to nail down a place with Barca, the midfielder then spent two seasons on loan with Bayern Munich before returning to the Camp Nou.
According to the report, there is interest from the Gunners who are looking at Coutinho as an alternative to Martin Odegaard. Barcelona are in a financial crisis at the moment and are looking to move on players such as the playmaker.
The former Liverpool man is one of the highest earners at the club and the Catalan giants want to reduce their wage bill. They are willing to loan the 29-year-old but Sport state that the north Londoners are yet to back up their interest with a ‘firm offer’.
The playmaker has also agreed to leave the club in search of regular football and sees Premier League as a feasible destination, but his wages will play spoilsport in any possible move.
Arsenal Fever View
From a stylistic point of view, Coutinho is just what the Gunners would like at the moment as there is a real need for a creative midfielder. The club has been linked with a move for James Maddison but that may prove to be too expensive to get done.
If the Barca playmaker can be brought back to England on a loan deal, it would work well but the wages would be the sticking point. A potential transfer will depend on whether or not the Brazilian is willing to take a pay cut.
It remains to be seen if Coutinho will be able to get back to his best and match up to the intensity of the Premier League. At his best, the midfielder could weave through defences before producing fearsome shots, but it is clear that the 29-year-old is not the player he once was.
If Arsenal are unable to secure a move for a creative midfielder, there is a chance that they come back for Coutinho. And with Barca open to letting the player go, getting a deal done would be quite easy.
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