It’s no real surprise that Leicester City are attempting to sign superstars, they are an ambitious club. But Philippe Coutinho isn’t a likely signing.
We’re into the second week of global quarantine, and ages without football. Sad times. Though your trusted friends and Leicester City bloggers here at Foxes of Leicester will always attempt to offer a bit of knowledge or entertainment when we can. To that end let’s dive into the latest, juicy transfer rumour about the Foxes which has gone international.
Leicester City eye Philippe Coutinho
Wow. This one takes the breath away for those loyal – and ageing – Leicester supporters amongst us who remember watching League 1 football at King Power Stadium. Bayern Munich loanee Philippe Coutinho is being target by the East Midlands side.
Not to mention current Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers having a known ‘good relationship’ with his former attacking midfielder whilst both were at Liverpool. Rodgers would, according to Express along with other national media, relish reuniting with his former player.
But how true is the report from the publication? Is a move feasible; would the Brazilian even get into the Leicester side at present; and what’s the likelihood of this breathtaking transfer prospectively occurring?
Is a transfer of any kind likely?
Allegedly Coutinho’s parent club Barcelona desperately want to sell their player in order to recoup some of the £130 million believed to have been paid for the former Liverpool man. Therefore the loan that Leicester City are said to require, may be out of the question.
A valuation anywhere near the amount paid is more than likely a quote too high for the Foxes to consider. This is mainly because the King Power outfit are smaller than every established ‘big six’ team. Every one of which has tens of millions extra funding to play with. If you add together the two highest amounts paid by the east Midlanders for players: their previous couple of record signings only total half of Coutinho’s recent fee.
Wage comparisons are another revealing aspect as to why a permanent move for the Brazil athlete is probably not on the cards. At present the Munich loan man rakes in an astounding, reported, £240,000 per week. Which is almost twice as much as Leicester’s top earner, Jamie Vardy, is apparently earning weekly. A pattern emerges.
The Express state further that Der FCB are “balking” at the £100m plus they’d have to pay to secure Coutinho’s services – so FoL guess he won’t be there for 2020/21. This has triggered interest from soon-to-be competing EPL sides. While he may not be the superstar for LCFC, expect the club to be in for players of this standard in the near future.
Would Coutinho get into the Leicester XI?
At this precise moment in time – well, going back a month before the world turned upside down – Coutinho would begin on the bench at Leicester. Yep, that’s right. He’d be behind either interchangeable Belgians Youri Tielemans or Dennis Praet. Although the Brazilian’s form had improved before the coronavirus shutdown.
Obviously Coutinho has it in his locker to surpass that Leicester pair and form a quite wonderful, explosive prospective forward-thinking No.8 partnership with James Maddison. The ever intervening Wilfred Ndidi would cover the pair extraordinarily well, too.
Eventually this writer envisions that trio would be a constant unit for the Foxes, hypnotically. And would be as devastating a three-man midfield the premiership, or football in general, has ever seen. There is also the added bonus fact that Brazil’s playmaker actually plays on either wing occasionally as well; predominantly the left. Evidently that occurred for Barca and whilst with the Reds.
To be honest, if the deal must be a permanent transfer but not a possibly lucrative loan for all parties, then it is not in Leicester’s best interests to sign the 27-year-old. Yes, he is proven in the top-flight yet the contemporary pricetag is astronomical. And Rodgers has very consistent – something Coutinho hasn’t always been – international players already at his disposal.
To summarise, the answer to the question: can the Foxes sign Coutinho? – is yes. Nonetheless, there are three reasons they will not: firstly Barcelona desire a sale and the price is too much. Secondly, Coutinho will consider himself good enough for a club of a higher standing. Thirdly, if a price is agreed his wages would dwarf his team-mates’ pay. Potentially causing issues in the squad.