Leicester: Is a bid for Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho likely?

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers will be keen to overcome the shortcomings before stepping into the next season. Rumors are he is interested in Coutinho!

Yes, you heard that part right. A return to the Premier League, where Philippe Coutinho enjoyed his best time, is upon the cards. But as every rumor could turn into a piece of news, we need to analyze the need for such a well-known playmaker.

Barcelona remains desperate to part ways

We all have heard about the financial situation FC Barcelona is in. They are over a billion dollars in debt, regardless of that the board has taken another significant amount to compensate towards the daily clockworks of the club. The transfer window remains a necessity for them to offload all the deadweights in their squad to retain and bring in new heavyweight names.

They do not have alternatives to keep a player like Coutinho. Back in 2018, his transfer fee of joining Barca from Liverpool was reported to be an initial £105 million. After that, the value of the Brazilian has depreciated massively. He remains just a visage of his past, so much so that he had to be loaned out to Bayern a season ago.

Coutinho gathered interests during the start of the 2020-21 season from the London duo of Arsenal and Tottenham, but after a year, only Leicester City have emerged as potential suitors to seal the deal for the midfielder’s return to England.

Does he fit into Leicester City?

Liverpool signed Coutinho back in January 2013 when the Reds were being managed under Brendan Rodgers. A reunion with Rodgers can be instrumental in making Coutinho find his lost form back. The Northern Irishman is known to rejuvenate the careers of footballers. It could also be the perfect challenge for a player like Coutinho.

The 29-year-old midfielder could even be the first statement signing for the East Midlands side after they acquired the services of Esteban Cambiasso during the 2014-15 season. Reportedly Barca’s asking price dwindles around € 20m, which is a fair price for the Foxes to consider and ponder over meticulously.

Leicester City’s two strikers in the 3-4-1-2 system that Rodgers used last season, which is just perfect for the Brazilian’s inclusion. Playing as an attacking midfielder behind Vardy and Iheanacho could only boost LCFC’s counter-attacking approach.

We have to agree that the likes of James Maddison or Ayoze Perez have been underwhelming this season. Their security needs to be challenged regularly as starters. Maybe that will bring out the best in both of them.

The King Power club cannot afford to lose out on a Champions League spot for the third time consecutively. The management needs to spend wisely in this window to reap the rewards later.