Philippe Coutinho is now ready to leave Barcelona during the January transfer window, but the reported Newcastle United target will have to accept a significant pay cut for any move.
That’s according to TuttoMercatoWEB, who note Coutinho has made it known at the Camp Nou he will leave next month. The Brazilian has struggled to establish a key role since Xavi Hernandez returned to Catalunya to replace Ronald Koeman as the Blaugrana’s manager.
Xavi has so far only started the 29-year-old once over six games across all competitions in charge. He has also only given the midfielder action from the bench in four fixtures, for a combined total of 56-minutes. Coutinho has played just 608-minutes altogether this term.
Coutinho accepts his Barcelona salary may cause issues in securing any winter transfer, with Newcastle still interested. The former Liverpool maestro earns €10m-a-year (£163k-a/w) at the Camp Nou, which TMW note is ‘impossible’ for any of his suitors to match.
Barcelona are also unwilling to cover any of his wage to help Coutinho seal a move away in January. Therefore, a return to the Premier League is the most likely outcome. But the 63-cap ace still accepts he will not be able to seek a wage anywhere near his current salary.
Newcastle land Coutinho transfer boost ahead of likely Barcelona exit
Newcastle will see Coutinho now accepting his future lies away from Barcelona as a boost for their transfer hopes. Sport had previously cited their interest in the Rio-born playmaker after the Saudi-led takeover at St James’ Park, having begun exploring a deal this summer.
But Sport later added that Coutinho had no intention of leaving the Camp Nou mid-season. Yet Xavi’s ongoing reluctance to give him game time may have swung the tide to leaving.
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