Transfer Centre

Barcelona 'considering Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur defenders for Coutinho swap'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 11 June 2020

Barcelona study Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur defenders ahead of a potential player-plus-cash deal for Philippe Coutinho, according to a report.

Barcelona are reportedly assessing Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur's defensive options as they look to offload Philippe Coutinho this summer.

The former Liverpool man has failed to assert himself since arriving at Camp Nou and continues to be linked with a move back to the Premier League.

Chelsea, Spurs and Newcastle United are all thought to be taking a serious interest in Coutinho, and Barcelona are supposedly keen to speed up the process ahead of the reopening of the transfer window.

According to Sport, Barca would be open to a player-plus-cash deal for the 27-year-old, and the Catalan giants are eyeing up Chelsea and Tottenham defenders as they look to bolster their backline.

The report suggests that Barca are holding out for an upfront fee of £55m plus a player valued at £25m, although Newcastle could offer a straight cash sum of £80m should the proposed Saudi-backed takeover of the club go through.

Coutinho has amassed nine goals and eight assists during his loan spell with Bayern Munich, but the Bavarian giants have decided against exercising their option of a permanent deal.