Arsenal are once again being linked with a move for Philippe Coutinho this summer.
The Barcelona midfielder is seemingly linked with a move to the Gunners every single transfer window and this summer is no exception, with Le10 Sport reporting that Mikel Arteta wants to bring him to the club if he recovers well from his ongoing knee problem.
Coutinho has not played competitive football since December 2020 after he suffered a serious meniscus injury, which was then operated on in January.
There was hope at Barcelona that the Brazil international would be back on the pitch before the end of the season, but he needed extra time to recover and missed the conclusion of his side's campaign.
Coutinho was left out of Brazil's Copa America squad due to the ongoing knee injury and his pre-season could be hampered as a result.
The 29-year-old was a big part of Ronald Koeman's side before he suffered the problem, as he looks to get his career back on track after a disappointing few years.
The former Liverpool star left Anfield to join Barcelona for a whopping £142million in January 2018, but has failed to replicate the form he showed on Merseyside that earned him the big-money move.
Now, according to Spanish outlet Sport, via SI, the Catalan club are demanding €40m (£35m) for Coutinho's services this summer and are more than willing to let him leave.
If Arsenal are indeed considering a move for the Brazilian, then his international and former Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino may have told the Gunners exactly why they should pursue his close friend.
Speaking in October 2020, Firmino said to FIFA.com: "He's phenomenal. You simply can’t say that he’s not a magician. He has magical powers. He produces plays that don’t exist, that you couldn’t make up.
"You always have to watch replays of his plays to understand what he’s done. He’s an unbelievable player. It was a pleasure to play with him at Liverpool, and it’s a pleasure to play with him for the Selecao.
"I’m a huge fan of his. He’s one of the very best players in the world."
Arsenal could have done with some of Coutinho's 'magical powers' last season, as the Gunners slumped to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League.
Arteta is desperate for a drastic improvement, which is why Arsenal are set for a huge squad overhaul this summer, football.london understands.
