Barcelona have offered Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio a chance to sign Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur target Philippe Coutinho this summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Barcelona and Coutinho want to find a solution to his situation as soon as possible with the market closing on August 31. The La Liga outfit have decided to offload the Brazilian in a bid to help ease their crippling financial crisis.
Coutinho moved to the Camp Nou in January 2018 for £105m, but has failed to live up to the price. He made just 12 top-flight appearances last season, starting eight, before two rounds of surgery on a knee injury. He also only managed to score twice and assist twice.
Liverpool and Tottenham have been monitoring Coutinho’s Barcelona situation in view of a potential Premier League return, per Mundo Deportivo. The Reds would eye their former player if they sell any of their current stars, while Spurs would move if Harry Kane leaves.
In the meantime, though, Liverpool and Tottenham risk missing out as Barcelona have now offered Coutinho to Lazio. The Catalan giants would even accept paying 50% of his salary to offload the 63-cap international’s eye-watering €20m-a-year (£327k-p/w) contract.
Lazio President Claudio Lotito and Sporting Director Igli Tare have asked Barcelona for extra time to consider signing Coutinho. Both have excellent relations with the Brazilian’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, which could help the Biancocelesti arrange some form of a deal.
But Coutinho is currently not a realistic option for Lazio as they must raise €20m (£17m) through sales. Without the funds, Sarri’s side cannot even register Stefan Radu’s new contract or complete former Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj’s registration.
Coutinho deals Lazio and Tottenham additional hurdle in Barcelona pursuit
An additional hurdle in Lazio’s pursuit, that will also impact Tottenham but not Liverpool, is that Gazzetta dello Sport add Coutinho does not want to give up playing Champions League football to leave Barcelona. Lazio finished the 2020/21 Serie A season in sixth.
But the biggest problem trying to sign Coutinho is that Barcelona have been chasing €50m (£42.5m) this summer, per AS. No team in the world has been willing to match their asking price, and Lazio physically cannot without significant departures.
Barcelona would have to drastically lower their demands to send Coutinho to Italy if the Premier League is not possible. Even if the Camp Nou hierarchy would cover 50% of the Brazilian’s wage, leaving €10m-a-year (£164k-p/w) for someone to pay.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
