Chelsea ‘in negotiations’ over Philippe Coutinho transfer as they steal march on Man Utd, Arsenal and Tottenham
CHELSEA are in negotiations with Philippe Coutinho over a summer transfer, according to reports.
The Brazilian, 27, is currently on loan at Bayern Munich from Barcelona for the season.
But according to Sport, the Bavarians are unwilling to exercise their £105million option to buy him at the end of his spell.
And now it is thought Chelsea made a march on their rivals to land Coutinho by contacting the player's agent Kia Joorabchian, with whom they have a strong relationship.
The Blues are up against a number of other sides in the hunt, though, with Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal among the interested parties.
Barcelona signed Coutinho from Liverpool in January 2018 for £145million.
But just 18 months later - and with 21 goals in 76 appearances - he was shipped out to Bayern on loan.
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Now with the German giants unlikely to make the move permanent, there is a scramble for his signature.
Coutinho could be available for between £52m and £70m and is thought to have his heart set on a return to England.
Manchester United have been long-term admirers of the playmaker.
And even though he was a star at Liverpool, the acrimonious departure from Anfield means Coutinho is thought to have no qualms about joining bitter-rivals United.
Tottenham lost Christian Eriksen in January when he joined Inter so the chance to sign another creative player this summer certainly makes sense.
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Reports suggested Barcelona could use Coutinho as a makeweight in a deal that would see Tanguy Ndombele head to LaLiga.
Spurs' North London rivals Arsenal have also been linked, while Brendan Rodgers' Leicester emerged as shock contenders, too.
The Northern Irishman signed Coutinho at Liverpool in 2013 and worked with him until his sacking in October 2015, going agoninisngly close to winning the Premier League title in 2014.
