Everton are seemingly plotting an audacious move to bring Brazilian Philipe Coutinho to Goodison Park on an initial loan deal as the Blues are reported to have made contact with Barcelona over the possibility of recruiting the 29-year-old playmaker, according to Spanish news outlet Fichajes,\u00a0as shared on Twitter by The Toffee Blues (@EvertonNewsFeed).<\/p>\n
The report, covered by the Liverpool Echo,\u00a0claims that an initial loan deal is \u2018more likely\u2019 to be viable for Everton, with the club having explored that possibility on Friday.<\/p>\n
Not unlike Everton\u2019s newly appointed manager Rafa Benitez, Coutinho, too, has a storied history with the Toffees\u2019 arch-rivals, Liverpool.<\/p>\n
Coutinho featured in over 200 games for Liverpool following an \u00a311 million switch from Inter Milan, going on to score 54 goals and add 45 assists to his name with the Reds and it was this scintillating form that earned him a \u00a3121.5 million move to Spanish giants Barcelona, but he could only managed 37 goal contributions in 90 outings for the Catalans.<\/p>\n
SportWitness has claimed that Coutinho is one of the players Barcelona will make available for a Nou Camp exit this summer.<\/p>\n
The situation could augur well for both Everton and the Brazilian as newly-appointed head coach Benitez had worked with Coutinho as a teenager when the duo were at Inter Milan, and a reunion for the duo could well spice up the team\u2019s chemistry at the Merseyside club.<\/p>\n
The previous role Benitez held in working with Coutinho, albeit for a very brief period at Inter, could render Everton as an attractive option for Coutinho.<\/p>\n
Understandably, in the same mould as the expected fan backlash to the Benitez appointment, many Evertonians may feel aggrieved by the club recruiting a playmaker who once shone for their rivals Liverpool.<\/p>\n
Reports are also claiming that James Rodriguez is disgruntled and unsettled at Everton so the Toffees may find themselves in need of recruiting a new playmaker in the transfer window.<\/p>\n
Coutinho\u2019s productivity is yet to be on the wane, be it at both Liverpool or Barcelona, and he could yet have plenty to offer to a new club appreciative of his services and abilities.<\/p>\n
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