‘Winter emergency plan’ – Player favouring January move ‘could stop at Newcastle’

Philippe Coutinho has been linked with a return to the Premier League, a year after he left Liverpool for Barcelona in January 2018.

In recent months, Newcastle United have been pushed forward as a contender to sign the 29-year-old.

Last weekend, Mundo Deportivo stated the Brazilian’s entourage have maintained a stance the player doesn’t want to leave in January. That, however, doesn’t seem to coincide with the La Liga side’s plans for him.

Sport have a report detailing the Spanish giant’s ‘winter emergency plan’, just days after their elimination from the Champions League.

The Blaugrana’s current salary budget is €430m and under these conditions, it will be ‘impossible’ for them to bring in new players next month.

Therefore, they are planning to let some of their players leave, and the attacking midfielder and Samuel Umtiti are already on the ‘exit ramp’. The duo, sporting wise, have no key role to play this season and are on high salaries. Xavi Hernández’s side could either sell them or send them out on loan. Even terminating their contracts isn’t ruled out.

When talking about possible destinations for Coutinho, the Magpies get a mention. He has a ‘poster in the Premier League’ and ‘could stop at Newcastle’ in January. Sport say the South American’s exit would be needed for Barca to sign Manchester City’s Ferran Torres.

Mundo Deportivo also mention Barca’s plan to let Coutinho and Umtiti leave next month. It’s claimed the ex-Liverpool star wants to play in the 2022 World Cup and is looking for more minutes in the second half of the season. 

This factor can ‘favour his departure, mainly to an English club’. There’s no mention of the Tyneside club or any other Premier League sides in Mundo’s report.

With both Barca and Coutinho in favour of a January move, a deal could be concluded, if Newcastle show serious interest in the Brazilian.