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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Kwame Boakye

'I don’t think it’s a James Rodriguez situation' - Kevin Campbell wants Everton to sign ex-Liverpool star

Kevin Campbell has urged Everton to sign Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho, insisting he wouldn’t be another James Rodriguez.

The Columbia star was signed by former boss Carlo Ancelotti and enjoyed an encouraging season with the club, scoring six goals and notching nine assists in 26 appearances.

However, after Ancelotti departed for Real Madrid, Rodriguez followed the Italian out of the exit door and signed for Qatari club Al Rayyan in the summer.

The Toffees are in desperate need of quality if they're to turnaround what’s been an incredibly disappointing first half of the campaign, the club are currently 15th in the Premier League table and have won just one of their last 12 games.

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Rafa Benitez's side have only scored 23 goals in their 18 top flight fixtures, and Campbell believes Coutinho, who has been linked with a move to Goodison Park, could add some much needed quality to the Toffees’ misfiring attack.

“Coutinho knows the Premier League,” Campbell told Goodison News.

“He’s been across the way at Liverpool, he was a really, really top player for them. He’s gone to Barcelona, not quite worked out the way he liked.

“He possesses the quality and focus to be a star in the Premier League – I don’t think it’s a James Rodriguez situation, I think he’s more accustomed to the Premier League.

“So, if it can happen, it’s another threat for an Everton side who could add to their attacking prowess.”

Coutinho has only registered two assists in 16 appearances for Barca and is yet to score this season after finding himself on the periphery of Xavi Hernandez’s squad.

The 29-year-old joined Liverpool from Inter Milan in an £8.5m deal in the summer of 2013, during his time on the Red half of Merseyside he scored 54 goals and notched 45 assists in 201 appearances.

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