Transfer Centre

Philippe Coutinho 'determined to fight for place at Barcelona'

By Leo Nieboer | 05 August 2019

Philippe Coutinho is reportedly not interested in joining Arsenal on loan and wants to fight for his place at Barcelona this season.

Philippe Coutinho has reportedly turned down the prospect of joining Arsenal on loan and wants to fight for his place at Barcelona this season.

The Brazilian, who moved to Camp Nou for £105m rising to a potential £142m with add-ons last year, has struggled to make an impact under Ernesto Valverde, scoring just five times in La Liga last season.

Reports claimed last week that representatives from Arsenal and Barcelona would meet at Cmp Nou on Sunday to flesh out a loan deal which would see Coutinho move to the Emirates.

However, according to The Mirror, Coutinho has no interest in joining Arsenal and wants to fight for his place in Valverde's starting XI next season.

The Brazilian has been pushed further down the pecking order this summer following the arrival of Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid for £105m.

It has also been suggested that Coutinho was offered to Paris Saint-Germain as a makeweight in a deal to bring Neymar back to Catalonia, but any move is very unlikely to happen in this window.