If Romano’s right, Arsenal could hijack move to sign £142m player – our view

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Arsenal were heavily linked with a move to sign Philippe Coutinho in January. And last summer. And the January before that.

In fact, Coutinho has been an Arsenal target for quite a lot of Edu’s two-and-a-half year spell at the Emirates Stadium and it’s probably the Brazilian connection.

Seeing the Barcelona loanee thrive at Aston Villa might disappoint the former Gunners midfielder, who is now very much their transfer guru.

However, if an update from Fabrizio Romano is accurate, the North Londoners could still sign the South American maestro.

Hijack?

Despite boasting three goals and three assists in seven Premier League outings under Gerrard, Aston Villa haven’t yet firmly decided on whether to sign him permanently, with the club’s hierarchy wanting to wait until May.

However, the longer Villa wait, the more opportunity it gives other clubs – particularly those in the Premier League – a potential avenue to hijack.

The Midlands outfit aren’t obligated to sign him and even if they do decide to pull the trigger, the 29-year-old isn’t obligated to join.

And the more impressive he is without Villa wanting to screw down their intentions, the more he might question if he can still engineer a bigger Premier League transfer – which Arsenal is.

Everyone knows that the Gunners need strikers this summer.

They’re the order of the day but, remember, Mikel Arteta’s outfit are 15th in the ‘big chances created‘ table this season.

For context, they’re level with Burnley on 28.

Creativity remains a major problem at Arsenal and someone like Coutinho – who cost £142 million in 2018 – will not only score goals under Arteta, but he’d create them too.