5 options for Philippe Coutinho in the summer as Barcelona lower asking price to sell

Philippe Coutinho’s future will be up in the air once again this summer after an underwhelming season on loan at Bayern Munich.

The Brazil international’s career stagnated after he switched from Liverpool to Barcelona in January 2018, and he’s struggled to make his mark in both La Liga and the Bundesliga.

Coutinho was in the form of his life when he left Anfield, but he initially struggled to impress Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde and was sent out on a season-long loan to Munich at the end of his first season.

Bayern aren’t keen on making the deal permanent at this point, and with a slashed £67million price tag to his name, this summer will be an interesting one where Coutinho is concerned.

Here are five options available to the Brazilian.

Barcelona

Coutinho endured a tough season at Barcelona last term and appeared surplus to requirements under boss Valverde.

The midfielder struggled to nail down a regular place in the starting XI and looked lost at times with the tactical and fitness demands Valverde was asking of his players.

Valverde was sacked earlier this year and new boss Quique Setien plays a style that may suit Coutinho, who enjoys making incisive passes in tight spaces.

Even with Setien’s arrival, the Catalan club have struggled in the league and the door may be open for Coutinho to help reignite his 2018 form and usher in a new era for Barcelona.

Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich have an option to buy Coutinho at the end of the season for a reported £100 million and are therefore his most likely destination, should he decide to leave Barcelona.

Coutinho has made 18 appearances in the Bundesliga so far scoring six goals and making six assists but hasn’t justified the price Munich would need to pay to get him in the summer.

With a large chunk of the season already played, Coutinho will need to start impressing if he wants the move having started the last two fixtures on the bench.

Munich is a good fit for Coutinho, but his price might be a barrier for a club that has the pick of the top players in the Bundesliga for cheaper.

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made it clear last summer that the club was interested in a move for the Brazilian playmaker, but that they were not willing to pay his asking price.

Coutinho was loved at Anfield before his switch in January 2018 and was in red-hot form during his last few months, with seven goals and six assists in 14 appearances.

Liverpool’s style has changed since Coutinho’s departure and it would be hard to find room for him in the club’s functional midfield.

Leaving the club, especially in January, upset many Liverpool fans and with a big price-tag, but Anfield remains an option at this point.

Inter Milan

While a move back to Liverpool may be a slightly difficult sell, a transfer to another of his former clubs – Inter Milan – is feasible.

Coutinho signed for Inter when he was 18 but struggled to make his mark and had a successful loan spell at Espanyol before moving to Liverpool aged 20.

The Italian giants are undergoing a resurgence under Antonio Conte and have recruited marquee signings Romelu Lukaku and Christian Eriksen in recent months.

Things didn’t really work out for Coutinho while at Inter as a young player, but with Conte at the helm the club clearly has the ambition to sanction a move for him.

Arsenal

Arsenal being on this list might be surprising, but with Coutinho’s options slim, hear us out on why there might be something to this.

Coutinho’s agent Kia Joorabchian is a lifelong Arsenal fan and has strong ties to Arsenal’s Technical Director Edu.

With the Gunners looking for a squad upgrade and Coutinho looking for regular football, a move to Arsenal could work for all parties.

This is the least likely move for the Brazilian, but if Arsenal can afford the Brazilian’s reported fee, we could be seeing Coutinho in red again come the summer.