Philippe Coutinho has agreed to join Arsenal in a season-long loan.
Philippe Coutinho was subjected to interest from Arsenal in the summer transfer window, but the Gunners do not have sufficient money to land him on a permanent basis.
The recently friendly clash has shaped up things for the transfer to go through after the former Liverpool star verbally agrees a deal to join Unai Emery for a season, as per L’Equipe. Bilel Ghazi, who broke Neymar’s Paris Saint Germain move in 2017, is anticipating the attacking midfielder to join the former Sevilla manager ranks after an unsuccessful season with Barcelona.
The Brazilian is the expensive player in Barcelona’s history, but has failed to live up to the belief and has been receiving constant stick from the Nou Camp faithful. He was also part of the side which was humiliated by Liverpool in the Champions League Semifinal at Anfield.
Despite his poor stint in Nou Camp, Coutinho’s quality never comes as a doubt to the rest of the world. Should the deal go through, it would come as a piece of huge news for the Gunners, who will be taking part in the forthcoming Europa League campaign.
The Europa League runners-up are expected to pay a significant loan fee for the 27-year-old, who joined Barcelona in 2017 for a fee of £142 million. Since Barcelona are willing to recoup a huge amount for the Brazilian after the deal sanction of Antoine Griezmann, the former Liverpool star will be sold in the next summer.
Philippe Coutinho could become the fourth signing of the summer transfer window after Nicolas Pepe, William Saliba, Dani Ceballos, and Gabriel Martinelli. Unai Emery has not given up his hopes on signing Kieran Tierney from Celtic, and his proposal for Dayot Upamecano and Daniele Rugani have been turned down by RB Leipzig and Juventus respectively.
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What next?
If Arsenal manage to sign Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona for a single season, expectation bar will be set high and the Gunners are anticipated finishing no lesser than the fourth spot regardless.
