Super-agent Kia Joorabchian has offered his client Philippe Coutinho to Milan, with another loan deal for the Barcelona outcast on the cards. According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo (via Daily Mail), the Brazilian could arrive at the San Siro on a season-long loan following an injury-ravaged season at Camp Nou.
Driving down a ballooning wage bill is one of Barcelona’s top priorities this summer, with Coutinho among the likeliest candidates to accommodate the arrivals of Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero. The 29-year-old endured another injury-riddled season in Catalonia, making just 14 appearances under Ronald Koeman in 2020/21.
It’s now a near-certainty that the ex-Liverpool man won’t be playing at Camp Nou next season, with several European powerhouses looking to offer him an escape route from Barcelona. The Reds have already made up their mind on Coutinho, deciding to drop their interest in the playmaker, while Leicester City remain firmly in the race for his signature.
However, Milan could be Coutinho’s landing spot this summer as they continue to scour the market for Hakan Calhanoglu’s successor. The Turk left the Rossoneri for city rivals Inter last month, leaving a sizeable gap in the front third for Paolo Maldini to fill in the ongoing transfer window.
Ajax’s Dusan Tadic and Everton’s James Rodriguez have already emerged as Calhanoglu’s potential replacements in Lombardy. But Coutinho could be a perfect low-cost solution, though his physical condition remains a sticking point. His quality and work ethic have never been questioned, but his inability to stay fit represents a major concern.
Coutinho is currently working on returning to full fitness in his native Brazil while his compatriots continue to impress at the Copa America 2021. Brazil’s quest to become the first CONMEBOL team to host and win back-to-back continental tournaments saw them progress to the semi-finals with a narrow 1-0 win over Chile on Saturday night.