Chelsea: Lampard to 'spend budget on a striker' says pundit
Chelsea should forget signing Philippe Coutinho this summer, according to former Blues midfielder Craig Burley. Chelsea are just one of a number of clubs linked with a move for Coutinho. The Brazilian has struggled at Barcelona since his £142million move to the Nou Camp from Liverpool in January 2018.
Coutinho has spent this season on loan at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich but a permanent deal looks unlikely and he is set to return to Barca at the end of the campaign.
Chelsea are reportedly looking to bring Coutinho in as a replacement for Willian and Pedro, who are both set to leave at the end of their Stamford Bridge contracts this summer.
But Burley does not think Coutinho would fit the style of football Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has adopted since becoming head coach last year.
The ESPN FC pundit also does not think Chelsea will have the finances for Coutinho and says they must prioritise signing a striker instead.
Chelsea news: Craig Burley does not think Chelsea should pursue Philippe Coutinho (Image: GETTY/ESPN)
"He's clearly not a direct replacement because [Willian and Pedro] are pretty much wide guys, Coutinho being a playmaker," Burley said.
"You've got Mason Mount who was given that role quite a lot this season, a player that Frank Lampard trusts, a young man that was given his head.
"I do think that the likelihood is the two senior players probably will go and also Coutinho needs to find a home for the next three or four years but I'm not quite sure he fits into that mould.
"Lampard likes his playmakers to be hardworking as well, closing people down and playing the pressing game.
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"He's not quite in that mould and he's had a tough time.
"The money's going to be big as well and don't forget there's going to be a budget cut for Lampard like every other manager in the Premier League.
"Abramovich has shown less of an appetite to spend huge money these days and their most important position out there is not a playmaker, it's a centre-forward.
"And we know, when you're after a top-notch centre-forward to get you over the line, that's big bucks.
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"It's big bucks in terms of transfer fee and it's big bucks in terms of wages.
"So even if he did want Philippe Coutinho to come in because he's a very good player, I think finances might dictate it."