Arsenal makes a strange request from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho.
Arsenal are looking to secure struggling midfielder, Philippe Coutinho, this transfer window but want Barcelona to also pay for the loan deal.
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The Catalans are regretting their decision of signing the former Liverpool midfielder after his failure to repeat the success he had in the Premier League. Coutinho moved to Camp Nou in 2018 after Barca paid close to 160 million euros for the Brazilian international.
Coutinho himself was adamant about moving to the Spanish giants, reject Liverpool boss Jorgen Klopp’s every attempt to keep him at Anfield. Needless to say, Coutinho’s sale was the best thing to happen to the German coach who went on to win both the Champions League and the Premier League after securing multiple superstars for the price Barca paid for the one midfielder.
While the Catalans have already suffered from the signing, their problems are far from over as Bayern Munich, who had loaned the player for 1 season with an option to purchase, have rejected the 120 million buy-out clause attached to the loan deal.
The 28-year-old will be returning to Camp Nou unless he finds another destination. The issue is that the player’s transfer fee is too expensive for any European club to pay as they have all financially suffered due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The midfielder has stated his desire to return to the Premier League but all the English clubs are only looking to loan him with Arsenal being among the favorites.
The Telegraph reports that the Gunners are keen on securing the Brazilain but want Barca to also pay some amount of his weekly wages. The loan deal itself is said to cost Mikel Arteta 10 million pounds but Arsenal wants Barca to also pay some of the 240k per week salary of the midfielder.
The midfielder is current with Bayern Munich until the end of the Champions League campaign and has agreed to take a 50% wage cut until then. In reality, Barca desires to sell the struggling star in order to finance their other transfers but if no club makes an official bid, they will be forced to settle for another loan deal instead.
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