TRANSFER NEWS: CHELSEA IN NEGOTIATIONS TO SIGN PHILIPPE COUTINHO

Cheslea are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona in the next transfer window.

According to a report from Spanish publication Sport, as carried by The Sun, Premier League giants Chelsea are in negotiations with the representatives of Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho over the possibility of a summer transfer

Coutinho joined Barcelona in January 2018, forcing a move away from Liverpool. But his time at Camp Nou has been a disappointment. Having failed to make the desired impact, Coutinho was shipped off on loan to Bayern Munich last summer.

So far in 2019-20, Coutinho has scored nine goals and set up eight more in 32 matches across all competitions. Despite having fared decently in Bavaria, the 27-year-old’s transfer will not be made permanent by Bayern Munich according to the report.

With Barcelona intent on offloading him, there has been a surge of interest in his services. The likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Leicester City have all been linked with a move for Coutinho, along with Chelsea. And as per the latest report, the Blues have stolen a march on their rivals in the pursuit of the Brazilian international.

It is being claimed that Chelsea have already started negotiations with Coutinho’s agent Kia Joorabchian, with whom they enjoy a good relationship.

Chelsea bound? (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Chelsea have had a fairly impressive season under Frank Lampard. The former Blues’ midfielder has done a good job in his first year at the helm, taking the club to the fourth place in the Premier League table, despite having made no investment into the squad.

But, it is expected that the Blues will be very active in the next transfer window as they look to bridge the gap to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

Midfield is one area where Lampard is blessed with a lot of options. Mateo Kovacic has been excellent this season, while the Chelsea boss also has Mason Mount, Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek vying for the attacking midfield slots. Hakim Ziyech, whose arrival next summer has already been confirmed, can also operate in a similar position.

So, it will be interesting to see where Lampard plans to use Coutinho, if Chelsea do sign him from Barcelona. There is always the possibility that the Brazilian could be utilized on the left flank, with the Blues facing the prospect of losing Pedro and Willian once their contracts run out.

Coutinho’s fortunes have dwindled ever since he left Liverpool two years ago. Nevertheless, he is a quality player who can be an asset to any team he signs for. It remains to be seen where he ends up next season, although, as things stand, it seems like Chelsea have their noses ahead in the race to land the 27-year-old.