Reporter: Philippe Coutinho would rather move to Chelsea FC than PSG
Philippe Coutinho would rather move to Chelsea FC than PSG if the playmaker leaves FC Barcelona, according to reporter Duncan Castles
Philippe Coutinho would prefer a move to Chelsea FC rather than PSG, according to Daily Record reporter Duncan Castles.
The Brazil international has been linked with a summer move following a difficult first full season at FC Barcelona.
Coutinho has struggled to step out of the shadow of FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi since his £142m move to Camp Nou from Liverpool FC in January 2018.
The 27-year-old scored 11 times in 52 games in all competitions last season but the Brazilian playmaker struggled to hold down a regular starting spot in the team.
Coutinho was heavily criticised for his performance in FC Barcelona’s 4-0 loss to Liverpool FC in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final in April.
Both Chelsea FC and PSG have been linked with a big-money move to rescue Coutinho from his nightmare at FC Barcelona in the 2019 summer transfer window.
However, Daily Record reporter Castles has claimed that Coutinho is more interested in a move to Chelsea FC rather than PSG ahead of the new season.
“Philippe Coutinho, also interest from Manchester United. Not as intense as the pursuit of [Ivan] Rakitic,” Castles told the Transfer Window podcast.
“Definite interest from Paris St-Germain, who he’s been offered to.
“Coutinho’s obviously represented by a couple of agents who have very strong links to Chelsea, have done a huge number of deals to that club.
“The briefing I had last week was that Coutinho’s preference would be to go to Chelsea rather than Paris Saint-Germain.
“But of course, dependent on the transfer-window ban being lifted, which it looks almost certain not to happen.
“The idea that Roman Abramovich spends that amount of money on one player, in terms of salary and transfer fee, at a time when he’s trying to sell the club, strikes me as a little strange.
“So I expect that briefing comes more from the desire of the agents to bring Chelsea into the equation than it does of an actual defined and fixed preference on Coutinho’s part.”
Coutinho spent five seasons at Liverpool FC, where the Brazilian playmaker established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League under Jurgen Klopp.
The South American star scored 54 goals in 201 games in all competitions during his time at the Merseyside outfit.
