Philippe Coutinho agrees to leave Barcelona; Arsenal and other Premier League teams keen

Philippe Coutinho has finally made peace with the fact that his Barcelona days are over as he has reportedly given the green signal to an exit.

Constant injuries and extreme inconsistency has hurt Coutinho’s tenure at Barcelona and he understands that the club no longer requires his service. While the player himself has no problem in moving back to the Premier League, the numbers he is demanding are stalling the negotiations.

Coutinho’s agents are closely working on the task at hand, but the extreme finances are likely to hinder any deal at one point in time. Those representing the Brazilian have made the suitors aware of the situation but at this very moment, no offer from any club has been put on the table.

Meanwhile, Coutinho is also exploring the possibility of going on a loan given that it is World Cup year and he hopes to cement a place in Brazil’s first team for the showpiece event.

Cadena Ser claims Arsenal and Newcastle United are interested, but the Brazilian would favour a move to the latter. Then there’s the reported interest from Tottenham as well.

None of the aforementioned clubs have made any move as of today and Barcelona are looking to avoid any last-minute scramble by the end of the January transfer window.

According to The Mirror, Arsenal want Coutinho on a six-month loan with an option to buy in the summer for £5 million, plus add-ons. And while they are willing to pay his £200,000-a-week wage in full, Barcelona want a £7.5m worth permanent deal right away. If the negotiation crumbles, Atletico Mineiro and Palmeiras in Brazil are waiting in the shadows.

Coutinho has many admirers not only in Europe but also in his native South America. However, playing with numbers is proving out to be a tough nut to crack.

Suggested read: Philippe Coutinho at Barcelona: The golden goose not worth a penny