According to rumors in Spain, Leicester City is mulling a surprise approach for Barcelona player Philippe Coutinho. Since joining the Catalan giants from Liverpool in a rumored £105 million deal, the 29-year-old has failed to live up to expectations, netting just 15 LaLiga goals in 64 appearances. Philippe Coutinho has constantly fallen short of expectations due to injuries and poor form.
After suffering a significant knee injury against Eibar in late December that required two surgeries, the Brazilian has not played for Barcelona in 2021.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona wants to eliminate Coutinho because of his high salary and has connected the former Inter Milan star with a £20 million move to Leicester. When Liverpool came agonizingly close to winning the Premier League in 2013-14, current Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers worked with Coutinho.
And Leicester is one of a few clubs interested in signing Coutinho, with Barcelona expecting that competition will help them reclaim as much of the record-breaking sum they paid for him in January 2018.
Everton and Arsenal have also been linked with a move for the Brazil international. However, unlike the Europa League side Leicester, neither club would be able to provide him European play during the 2021-22 season. However, given Coutinho's poor record since moving to Barcelona, any trade would appear dangerous.
He was on loan at Bayern Munich for the 2019-20 season, and despite helping them win the treble, the Bundesliga giants decided not to sign him permanently. Since leaving Liverpool, he has also won LaLiga and the Copa del Rey, but he has struggled to match the form that saw him score 41 goals in 152 Premier League appearances during a five-year tenure at Anfield.
The news follows allegations earlier this week that Barcelona's management is planning to sell up to 18 first-team players during the current transfer window.
The club is in debt to the tune of £862 million, and it is thought that selling players like Coutinho, Antoine Griezmann, and Sergio Busquets can help alleviate those concerns.