Barcelona Identify $62M Star As Coutinho’s Replacement, But There Is An Issue [Details]

FC Barcelona are reportedly looking to sign Brazil midfielder Oscar as Philippe Coutinho’s replacement. The deal looks unlikely to go through, considering Barcelona’s financial crisis and Oscar’s high wages.

Oscar is contracted with Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port until 2024. In the ongoing winter transfer window, Barcelona have contacted Oscar for a possible move to Camp Nou, according to TNT Sports Brazil.

International Business Times, however, could not verify it independently.

Oscar, who moved from Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG in 2017 for $82 million, earns weekly wages worth $766,682 – which roughly totals up to $38 million per year, according to Salary Sport.

The said salary is expected to be too much for Barcelona, who were earlier forced to off-load Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann for abiding by La Liga’s salary bracket. In addition, Barcelona have been forced to restructure player contracts to register their latest signing Ferran Torres, who made $62 million to Camp Nou from Barcelona in December 2021.

Coutinho’s loan move to Aston Villa in the underway January window created some room in Barcelona’s salary bracket but it was not enough to register Torres. Now that Samuel Umtiti has signed a contract with reduced salary, Barcelona will be able to finally register Torres, reported ESPN.

Oscar, who’ll be 31 later this year, has notched up 50 goals and 101 assists in 170 competitive appearances for Shanghai so far since 2017.

The Brazil national helped his side – who were then known as Shanghai SIPG – win the Chinese Super League title in 2018, as well as the Chinese FA Super Cup in the following campaign.

While Oscar has been a regular on the club level, the midfielder has not featured for his country since turning out in a 2018 World Cup qualifier back in October 2016.

Barcelona were recently held at a 1-1 draw by Granada in la Liga. With 32 points in 20 games, the Catalans are placed sixth in the league table. The former champions have won eight, drawn eight and lost four.