Cash-strapped Barcelona to offload Philippe Coutinho this summer to avoid paying Liverpool another £17MILLION when he hits 100 games for the club… with the Brazil star currently on 90 at the Nou Camp
- Philippe Coutinho could be sold or sent out on loan from Barcelona
- Brazilian joined Barca from Liverpool in a £140million deal in January 2018
- Playmaker had been given a significant role in Ronald Koeman’s side this term
- But he has not played throughout 2021 due to suffering a long term knee injury
- Coutinho still has two years to run on his Barca contract this summer
Barcelona are becoming increasingly desperate to offload Philippe Coutinho this summer with the playmaker edging closer to triggering £17million in payments to Liverpool by the club.
Coutinho joined Barca from the Reds in a deal worth £140million at the start of 2018 but has since struggled to live up to his transfer fee.
The figure was broken down in a series of installments with guaranteed fees set at £103million and appearance and success fees also added as part of 15 clauses Barca already has had to meet according to Mundo Deportivo.
Barcelona will have to pay Liverpool £17m if Philippe Coutinho plays 10 more games for them
The main clause of these is the £17m that would be paid to Liverpool if the 28-year-old reaches 100 games for the club.
He has currently played 90 times at the Nou Camp, but having made little impact the club are keen to avoid having to pay this clause especially amid the financial strain they are under following the coronavirus outbreak last year.
With Barca’s financial reports recently revealing that they still owe as much as £112m to 19 different teams in transfer fees, they will be hoping to trim needless costs where they can.
Other clauses that have already been met include £4m for playing 25 games, £9m for qualifying for the first two years of the Champions League and an additional £4m for winning the tournament – despite his winners’ medal coming from when he was on loan at Bayern Munich last term.
Coutinho was a regular under boss Ronald Koeman until his knee injury in December
Coutinho had been expected to return next month but his recovery has stalled in recent weeks
The report adds that Barca are now keen to get the Brazilian off their books this summer whether that is via a direct transfer or even a loan agreement.
Coutinho still has two years to run on his contract and has already been out on loan once having spent last season at Bayern Munich.
Although he has featured more in Ronald Koeman’s plans this term he has been out injured throughout 2021 with a knee injury that has seen him have to undergo surgery.
He had been expected to return to be able to compete in El Clasico next month against Real Madrid but his recovery has stalled and doubts of being available for the clash have significantly increased.
The Brazilian moved to Barca for £140m after starring for Liverpool in the Premier League
