Philippe Coutinho reportedly has no intention of joining Newcastle United when he leaves Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Philippe Coutinho has no interest in joining Newcastle United in the summer transfer window, even if the Magpies offer him a lucrative salary. The on-loan Barcelona playmaker prefers to move to a club where he feels comfortable despite a lower pay package, handing Aston Villa and Arsenal a boost in his pursuit.
Philippe Coutinho is finally starting to find a stable footing in his career after a few difficult years at Barcelona. The temporary stint with Aston Villa, whom he joined in January this year, has helped the Brazilian playmaker find a new lease on life while earning his place back on the national side.
Coutinho took no time to establish himself as a key figure for Aston Villa and has amassed four goals and three assists in ten appearances across all competitions. And the 29-year-old will likely end his Barcelona nightmare for good in the summer transfer window, with Newcastle United among the clubs lining up for his signature.
Newcastle United will continue to bolster the first-team squad in the summer transfer window as they look to rise up the Premier League standings organically. Coutinho has thus emerged as a viable target to reinforce the Magpies’ creative ranks, especially with Miguel Almiron poised to depart from St. James’ Park after the ongoing season ends.
Apart from Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Arsenal are also keen on prising Coutinho away from Barcelona in the summer transfer window. And the interest from Villa and Arsenal has turned Coutinho’s head enough to show no interest in joining Newcastle United, even though the Tyneside giants could offer him better wages.
Instead of joining the club where he can earn more despite not being allured by their project, the 29-year-old playmaker is ready to move to a team where he will be comfortable, even if he does not earn a satisfactory salary. Newcastle United will thus bow out of the race to sign Coutinho from Barcelona.
Aston Villa recently opened talks to Coutinho, and the Villans have the first preference of snapping him up for €40 million. But with Arsenal also in contention to sign the on-loan Barcelona playmaker, it is anyone’s game heading into the summer transfer window.