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Philippe Coutinho to join Liverpool or Chelsea? Craig Burley makes summer transfer claim
CHELSEA could sign Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho if they get their transfer ban overturned, says former Blue Craig Burley.
Philippe Coutinho could return to Premier League says Burley
Burley has also suggested a possible return to Liverpool for Brazil star Philippe Coutinho.
The midfielder has had a difficult time at Barcelona since joining from Liverpool for a fee of around £142million.
He has been able to nail down a starting spot and has already been linked with a return to the Premier League.
Burley can see Coutinho coming back to England, either this summer or the end of next season.
Maybe Liverpool would take him back, just not at the £150m that they got for him
He suggested Chelsea as a possibility, with their appeal over their two-window transfer ban to take place on April 11.
But Burley says if Coutinho was to move back to Liverpool, it would not be for as much as they sold him for.
“This is a difficult one because I said a few days ago I think he’d have another season at Barcelona,” Burley told ESPN FC.
“Going to a big club is difficult, the pressure, going from Liverpool to Barcelona is another step up.
“Playing with Lionel Messi is another step up in the pressure.
“He was the top guy at Liverpool, now he’s in there with other guys who are pulling the strings.
“It’s not easy and it has been difficult for him.
“I’ll say it’s possible [for Coutinho to return to England].
“I think he might have another year at Barcelona but I don’t know if Liverpool would take him back, I don’t know if they’d want him back.
“Maybe a Chelsea, well they can’t buy anybody. He might go back to the Premier League, I don’t know.
“I’m doubting myself on this one, but he might go to the Premier League.
“Maybe Chelsea can sign players, potentially if they get this overruled, but it does look unlikely.
“Maybe Liverpool would take him back, just not at the £150m that they got for him.”