Coutinho is currently on loan at Bayern Munich
According to Spanish publication Sport (h/t Express), Chelsea could sign Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho in a player plus cash deal.
The 27-year-old has been identified as an option as Frank Lampard seeks to bolster his attacking options.
Coutinho is surplus to requirements at the Nou Camp. So much so that just a season and a half since joining the club for a record fee, he was loaned out to Bayern Munich.
The Bundesliga champions had the option of taking him on permanently for £89million. However, they chose not to activate the clause and the player is set to return to Catalonia.
Barcelona are keen to recoup the £142m paid to Liverpool for the player. But they are aware that it will be a tough ask considering the financial uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus crisis.
Another loan move for Coutinho had been touted as a potential option, with Barca cashing in on him next summer.
According to the report, Barcelona are willing to let him leave for around £44.5m-£53.5m if a player is also included in the deal. The Catalans would ideally prefer to get a player who is a specialist in defence and can play at left-back or centre-back.
Chelsea stars Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso are considered surplus to requirements. Either of them could be used in a deal. But the former looks to be on his way to Juventus. (h/t Express)
Kurt Zouma is another player who can be included in the deal, with his future at Stamford Bridge far from certain. (h/t Express)
Coutinho is a far cry from the player who starred for Liverpool. Soon to be 28, he still remains a classy individual who can thrive in the right system.
Having already signed Hakim Ziyech, Chelsea are also chasing Kai Havertz while also being in pole position for Timo Werner.
Adding Coutinho to the mix would make our attack a daunting proposition to face. Whether we actually make a move for the Brazilian or not remains to be seen.
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