Barcelona attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho is expected to leave the club at the end of the summer and has been linked with a move back to the Premier League. The likes of Chelsea, Newcastle United, Manchester United and his former employers, Liverpool have been credited with showing interest in the Brazilian.
However, Chelsea and Newcastle United have emerged as the front-runners to acquire the services of Coutinho, who is currently on loan at Bayern Munich. In addition, their quest for signing the Brazilian got additional mileage after Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed that the Bundesliga giants won’t be exercising the option of signing the 27-year-old permanently from Barcelona.
“The option has already expired and we have not exercised it. Now we will have to complete the squad planning for next season and we will see if the player can still have a role to play with us or not.”
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
So, with Barcelona trying to cash in on Philippe Coutinho to accumulate funds for new signings, and Chelsea and Newcastle United poised to make a statement by roping in the former Liverpool ace, we have tried to analyze which club between the Blues and the Magpies are best suited for the diminutive Brazilian.
Chelsea
After serving a transfer ban, Chelsea will finally have the chance to replace Eden Hazard, who left for Real Madrid last summer. As per several reports, the Blues have already started negotiating to sign the Barcelona outcast and sees Coutinho as a possible replacement for Hazard.
Pros:
Taking the experience of playing for big sides into account, Philippe Coutinho can be a perfect fit for Chelsea as they seek to challenge for the Premier League title in the coming seasons. Besides, manager Frank Lampard’s midfield-dominated football philosophy with players given a free role to express their talents on the field might just be what the Brazilian needs to get his career right back on track.
Despite having a different playing style to Eden Hazard, Philippe Coutinho can be a perfect replacement for the Belgian at Chelsea as both resemble a lot in the way they can influence the outcome of any game. Not to mention, Coutinho made a name for himself while playing for another English outfit, Liverpool, just like Hazard did at Chelsea. Coutinho possesses the qualities to rejuvenate the Chelsea side and fill the big void created by Hazard’s departure.
Cons:
With a plethora attacking midfielders in their ranks, such as Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Hakim Ziyech, and Christian Pulisic, Chelsea don’t really need another player for the same position. Moreover, Coutinho’s arrival will possibly hamper the developments of the aforementioned players. In addition, Chelsea will also have to spend big in order to lure Philippe Coutinho to Stamford Bridge. So, to sum it up, Chelsea signing Coutinho will raise more questions than actually finding answers.
Newcastle United:
As per recent reports, Philippe Coutinho could become one of Newcastle United’s marquee signings in the upcoming transfer window, should the Saudi Arabia consortium complete their take over of the famous Premier League club.
Pros:
With a brand new prospect looming on the horizon, Coutinho can start afresh after struggling for consistency at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The 27-year-old is already familiar with playing for big and clubs, and it could also come handy for Newcastle United, who have struggled over the last decade or so.
Besides, the added pressure of being the main focal point of a club could become a huge factor in turning around Coutinho’s career.
Cons:
On the other side of the coin, the former Liverpool ace could feel that moving to St James’ Park is a step down in his career as Newcastle United are far from forming a world-class team who can compete on all fronts. In addition, the lack of Champions League football for at least a season could play a determining factor in Philippe Coutinho not wanting to join the Magpies.
Verdict
Taking all the pros and cons into account, we can conclude that it would be better suited for Philippe Coutinho to join Newcastle United, who are on the brink of starting a new era. While signing for a success-crazy club like Chelsea, especially after enduring a difficult time, could destroy his career for eternity.