Philippe Coutinho offered to Milan as Barcelona slash asking price
AC Milan could give Philippe Coutinho the chance to leave Barcelona this summer as Ronald Koeman looks to free up space on the wage bill.
Barça’s financial struggles have been well documented over the course of the pandemic, with the club still trying to renegotiate Lionel Messi’s mammoth contract after his most recent deal expired last week.
Coutinho, who turned 29 in June, has failed to impress at Camp Nou since making the nine-figure switch from Liverpool at the start of 2018. He’s made 90 appearances in all competitions across three seasons, and spent the 2019/20 campaign on loan at Bayern Munich.
According to Tuttosport (via Mundo Deportivo), Kia Joorabchian – Coutinho’s agent – has been tasked with finding a new club for the Brazil international.
Milan are eyeing a replacement for Hakan Calhanoglu, who recently moved to rivals Inter on a free transfer, and could move for former Nerazzurri man Coutinho after he was offered to them by Joorabchian.
While Coutinho would be available for just €25m, he is currently still recovering from knee surgery he underwent at the start of the year, but Barcelona are confident that he will return to full fitness before the end of the transfer window and that he would be able to successfully be able to undergo a medical elsewhere.
Coutinho has been heavily touted to return to the Premier League ever since swapping Merseyside for Catalonia. Tottenham and Arsenal are two clubs who have continually been linked with the midfielder, while Everton have also emerged as a potential destination in the last few months.
Current Toffees midfielder James Rodriguez is another name that Milan have been linked to in their search of a Calhanoglu replacement. The Colombian made just 23 Premier League appearances in his maiden campaign in England, struggling to stay fit and hold down a place in the side.
This article was originally published on 90min as Philippe Coutinho offered to Milan as Barcelona slash asking price.