Chelsea are in advanced talks with Barcelona over a move for their Brazilian star Phillipe Coutinho – with a £55million price-tag on his head.
Coutinho, 27, cost Barcelona £145million after signing him from Liverpool in January 2018.
After quickly falling out of favour at the Nou Camp, Coutinho is spending the 2019-20 season on loan at Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
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Barcelona are desperate to sell Coutinho in order to raise funds but Bayern appear to have no intention in making his move permanent.
But according to Spanish outlet Sport, bosses at the Catalan club are in “advanced talks” with Chelsea.
The Blues have been keen to sign Coutinho ever since Eden Hazard left to join Real Madrid last summer.
Frank Lampard’s men were then under a transfer ban and were forced to wait – with Bayern Munich swooping in.
But with the embargo now lifted, Chelsea are set to rekindle their interest in Coutinho and hope to sign him on loan.
The report in Spain claims Barcelona are more keen on selling Coutinho for good, valuing him at £80m.
However, they are willing to allow Coutinho to join the West Londoners on loan so long as a clause is inserted forcing Chelsea to take him on permanently at the end of the season.
In that scenario, the Blues would pay just £55m for the former Inter Milan playmaker.
Coutinho’s agent is said to be working hard to help his client move this summer – and is focusing primarily on England.
Everton, Tottenham, Manchester United and Leicester are all clubs rumoured to also be interested in Coutinho, should Chelsea fail in their pursuit.
