Lazio are seeking multiple wingers, but their transfer market appears to be stuck in molasses. The agent Kia Joorabchian proposed Philippe Coutinho to them. The Biancocelesti are monitoring the situation, but the deal is hugely complicated because of his wages, La Repubblica reports.
Barcelona are desperate to reduce their payroll to comply with La Liga‘s impositions. They would let him go on an initial loan with a €20/25M option to buy. While Lazio could accept those terms, the Brazilian midfielder would need to significantly cut his salary to return to Italy.
Coutinho currently makes €10M per year, which has hindered every rumored move thus far. The Biancocelesti could give him at most €3/4M. They could exploit the fiscal advantages of the so-called Decreto Crescita if he inked a multi-year contract. It seems improbable that he would accept such a drastic reduction. Given the sums involved, he will likely end up transferring to a Premier League side, the publication adds.
Despite that, the rumors have begun circulating, and the Lazio fans are peppering his social media pages to convince him to join. Coutinho spent two and a half seasons at Inter when he was younger, mostly failing to impress. He notched 5 goals and 4 assists in 47 appearances and also went out on loan to Espanyol in the midst of his stay. The Nerazzurri sold him to Liverpool for 13 in 2013, and he blossomed at Anfield. The 29-year-old attacker was linked to Milan and Inter earlier in the window as Barcelona are shopping him around.