Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Barcelona offer Philippe Coutinho to Man Utd - and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes call
Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho has been linked with a move to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window.
Barcelona ‘happy’ to offer Coutinho in transfer deal says expert
Barcelona have reportedly offered Philippe Coutinho to Manchester United. Bayern Munich have already confirmed they won’t be signing the Brazil international permanently when the transfer window reopens, with the playmaker struggling for form at the Allianz Arena. However, it appears Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn’t want to land the 27-year-old either.
Barcelona signed Coutinho from Liverpool in January 2018, installed with the belief that he’d be the ticket to Champions League glory.
However, the Samba star toiled at the Nou Camp for 18 months before leaving Catalonia on loan.
Coutinho briefly sparkled upon joining Bayern Munich but the Samba star has endured a wretched campaign, failing to replicate the form of old.
Now, ESPN claim that United have been offered the chance to sign the 27-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window.
However, Solskjaer has already reportedly decided that he doesn’t want to take Barcelona up on their proposal.
It’s said he will ‘pass’ on Coutinho.
THINK YOU KNOW FOOTBALL? Football quiz questions and answers: 15 questions and answers for your home pub quiz
And the form of Bruno Fernandes could be why, with the Portugal international shining at Old Trafford ever since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January.
United had been looking for a playmaker for a number of years - yet Fernandes has now solved that problem with some storming displays.
They do want to sign a playmaker but Jack Grealish, of Aston Villa, is their preferred target for the summer transfer window.
And what happens with Coutinho remains to be seen, with Barcelona determined to get the Samba star off their books.
Barcelona have been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, with their first-team performers having to agree to a huge 70 per cent pay cut.
THINK YOU KNOW SPORT? Try our Sport’s quiz to test your knowledge during lockdown
They want to sign Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan and Coutinho could be used as bait in a deal for the Argentina international.
And they still harbour hopes of signing Neymar from PSG, three years after his controversial move from the Nou Camp to the Parc des Princes.
One place Coutinho could end up is Tottenham.
Spurs were actually keen on signing the Barcelona flop on loan before he moved to Germany with Bayern instead.
And Noel Whelan believes Tottenham should renew their interest in Coutinho, who could become a ‘world-beater’ once again at White Hart Lane.
DON’T MISS
Man Utd chief Ed Woodward could sign four free agents to save millions in transfer window
Man Utd may turn to Memphis Depay or Wilfried Zaha because of Jadon Sancho difficulty
Man Utd face Anthony Martial leaving Old Trafford if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fails mission
“There is a great deal to be had there on a fantastic player,” he told Football Insider.
“No one has got the best out of him since he left Liverpool but there is a player there, a good creative player.
“If you can get that same ability that he had at Liverpool, you have a world-beater on your hands and you can get him for a very, very good price.
“It has got to be the right club. Tottenham, Arsenal or Chelsea would suit him down to the ground. People will take a chance on him because he has got an untold amount of ability.
“He looks very professional and I would want him in my team all day long because players like him are hard to come by.”
TRY OUR BUNDESLIGA QUIZ: Bundesliga quiz questions and answers: 15 questions to test your knowledge