Philippe Coutinho is a man in demand – just not at Barcelona, apparently. The Brazilian has failed to gain a regular starting spot at the Camp Nou since joining from Liverpool a little over a year ago and now we are told his people are letting others know he may be open to a transfer. Manchester United’s ears have pricked up – in fact, there’s even been uninformed mutterings about a Coutinho-Paul Pogba swap deal, although Pogba obviously hasn’t heard that chat otherwise he might not have jabbered about his Real Madrid dream. Other clubs interested in Coutinho include Chelsea, assuming they are allowed to make transfers, and Paris Saint-Germain.
The list does not include Liverpool because they have moved on. And they would like it if Coutinho stayed where he is because if he doesn’t make a lot more appearances for Barcelona, Liverpool may never get up to £22m of the £142m they sold him for – a chunk of that payment being appearance-related.
If Coutinho goes to PSG, he will be part of a new-look midfield that also features Ander Herrera who, according to the Daily Record, has already agreed to join the French club this summer. Others claim no deal has been reached and United are still trying to persuade him to stay at Old Trafford. The Mill isn’t even pretending to know which is true. See, that’s proper journalism. Such integrity.
Having said that, here is more stuff that may have been made up. Spurs are on the lookout for a new central defender to replace the soon-to-be-departing Toby Alderweireld: Everton’s Michael Keane is top of their wish list. Or maybe Bournemouth’s Nathan Aké is. Keane is also being eyed up by Arsenal, who are looking not only for players but also for a sporting director: Marseille’s Andoni Zubizaretta is the current favourite. And word is that he, or someone already at Arsenal, has the Gunners’ sights set on Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser. They are also said to be finalising a deal for Gabriel Martinelli, a 17-year-old Brazilian winger presently with a club called Ituano.
Meanwhile, back at Spurs, Mauricio Pochettino is said to be hot on the trail of Juventus winger Douglas Costa. More surprisingly, he’s also said to remain sweet on Hugo Lloris and has no plans to hire a new goalkeeper this summer. Then again, making three transfers in a single window would blow minds at White Hart Lane.
Wolves have no plans to change a winning formula so will make a move for another Portuguese player: Southampton’s right-back Cédric Soares.
Queens Park Rangers have devised the perfect plan for getting themselves out of bother: after sterling managerial reigns by gaffers such as Mark Hughes, Harry Redknapp and Steve McClaren, the club are toying with the notion of engaging Tim Sherwood as their new manager.
Finally, let’s end where we began. Barcelona and PSG are among the clubs jostling for the signature of Luka Jovic, the striker who is banging ’em in for Eintracht Frankfurt. And that could mean that Edinson Cavani becomes available this summer, as PSG would listen to offers for a player whose contract expires in a year.
