Tottenham could be set to seal one of the most sensational signings of the summer after they made a bid to sign Philippe Coutinho on loan, according to the Times.
His high-profile move to Barcelona from Liverpool hasn’t worked out and while the Spanish club would rather sell him, they’re willing to let him go on loan for a £21m fee.
They paid up to £142m to buy him from Liverpool with £105m paid upfront and the rest in add-ons.
Coutinho earns more than £200,000-a-week which would make him the highest-paid player at Spurs – that honour is currently Harry Kane’s, who is on a straight £200k-a-week. [Spotrac]
Likely to happen?
This could all come down to what happens with Christian Eriksen. The Times have said that Spurs are unlikely to sell to another English club, which would rule out Man United.
However, Dainel Levy won’t want Eriksen to run his contract down and leave for free next summer.
Eriksen could agree a pre-contract deal with an overseas club as early as January and that would surely have a knock-on effect on his second-half of the season with Tottenham.
Surely it would be better to find him a new home, even on a cut-price deal, and then invest the funds in Coutinho for a season before replacing him permanently in January or next summer?
Saying that, would Levy realistically pay £21m for a loan fee? Stranger things may have happened but that would seem out of character.
Terrace talk
There’s no doubt that Coutinho is a quality player but the news has split the Tottenham fanbase.
I'm unconvinced, if not underwhelmed, by the idea of signing Coutinho. It doesn't feel like a very Pochettino-era signing. Maybe that's a good thing, not sure #THFC
— Glenn Ebrey (@glennebrey) August 6, 2019
One fan said that he wasn’t convinced by the move, saying it didn’t feel like a “Pochettino-era signing”. That’s true but surely Spurs fans would love to see Coutinho at the new Tottenham stadium next season? There’s no doubt he would strengthen the team – the test Pochettino has cited for adding new players.
Can’t even get Bruno or Lo Celso over the line doubt we will get Coutinho! #THFC
— Ross Norsworthy (@rossnorsworthy1) August 6, 2019
Other Tottenham fans are cynical that Levy would pay the money. He’s a man who’s notoriously tight in the transfer market and that’s a huge amount of money for a player he won’t be able to sell-on. As one fan said, Spurs “can’t even get Bruno or Lo Celso over the line, doubt we get Coutinho!”
We have to do this if he is available. We must sell Eriksen because he isn’t signing a new deal. Coutinho and Lo Celso/Bruno Fernandes improves the squad and replaces Eriksen. He knows the league too. #THFC #COYS
— Namdalla (@Namdalla93) August 6, 2019
However, there were plenty of fans who are desperate for Spurs to pull off the sensational signing. One fan said simply, “We have to do this if he is available”. He is available. Do Tottenham have the stomach for it?