Newcastle United are still strongly interested in signing Philippe Coutinho this summer, with a report emanating from The Mirror saying the Magpies could consider making the move for the Brazilian – who is currently enjoying life on loan at Aston Villa – this summer.
Coutinho was a surprise signing by Steven Gerrard in January and he has impressed so far in the Midlands. However, The Mirror claims that the Brazil international remains on the PL club radar and should Eddie Howe want a statement signing, the owners at St James’ Park could back him.
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There are uncertainties surrounding Coutinho’s mouth-watering wages full time and in light of this, it’s unsure whether Villa will take on that. The Telegraph reported that the UCL winner earns around £480k-a-week in Barcelona. Naturally, that’s a figure Villa would not want to have any business with.
Coutinho, on the other hand, has been lauded as ‘brilliant’ for his performances since he signed in back to England, and he has been linked with a move to Arsenal as well recently.
Interestingly for Newcastle, it was only a few weeks back that reports claimed Coutinho had no interest in moving to Newcastle. However, with their Premier League status all but secured and big money behind them, Eddie Howe will hope to tempt the former Liverpool man to make a move.
Indeed nobody in the league is paying Coutinho nearly half a million a week in England and we should expect to see an enormous pay cut. His current wages put him way above some of the very best in the entire league, including players like Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Kevin De Bruyne. Coutinho needs to get his entourage to drop such demands if he wants to seal a permanent move back to England this summer.
Villa has looked a good fit for him and Gerrard has got him playing well. But there’s only so long a club will pay that sort of money. Ultimately, while Coutinho is a fine player, his wages are too big. Something will have to give, or he’ll end up going to a club far away from England just for the money.
Aston Villa who are placed 15th on the Premier League table this season next outing is away at King Power Stadium against nine positioned Leicester City and will be counting on another brilliant performance of Coutinho if they are to win all three points.