Leicester City and Everton are in the picture to sign Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho.
Sport state the Brazilian’s departure in January is possible, but it won’t be easy due to his high wages. There are not many clubs who can match his current salary, which makes it close to impossible for the La Liga side to receive bids for the 29-year-old.
The former Liverpool star has ‘made it clear’ to the club that he will not object to leaving the Camp Nou, but he would want to ‘choose a destination’. However, he has ruled out a move to his home country or another side outside Europe.
Coutinho and Barcelona want to come up with a strategy so that he can end up in the Premier League. The attacking midfielder’s environment are working to find a new club, after learning the Catalan club’s desire to cut ties with him this month.
So far, ‘there are up to four teams that have not closed their doors’, and this includes the Foxes and Rafael Benítez’s side.
It’s claimed the South American’s representatives have ‘spoken with Leicester and Everton’, as they are the sides who had ‘previously probed the operation’.
Xavi Hernández’s side are ready to let Coutinho leave, even on loan, by including a low purchase option. They have to either pay part of his salary or the player has to take a pay cut.
Sport explain the Spanish giants want Coutinho to ‘lower his salary a lot’ to see him go elsewhere in January.
