KEY POINTS

  • AC Milan is linked to a transfer swoop for Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho
  • Coutinho's agent has made contact with the Serie A club 
  • The Brazilian is still Barca's most expensive signing

A Serie A club could add a pricy Barcelona star in its squad this summer.

After making his return to Barcelona this past season, Philippe Coutinho is once again linked to a move away from Camp Nou.

Coutinho has been offered to AC Milan, and the Italian outfit likes the idea of signing Barca’s most expensive signing of all time, Spanish outlet Marca reported.

Despite competing with a host of European clubs, the Rossoneri appears to have the “advantage of the tax benefits” in Italy which could allow them to meet Coutinho’s steep wage demands, the report said.

The Brazilian’s potential move to AC Milan is said to have been orchestrated by his agent Kia Joorabchian, who has made contact with the Serie A side, per Mundo Deportivo.

Philippe Coutinho
Coutinho welcomed Neymar's potential return to Barcelona. In this picture, Philippe Coutinho of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga match between Malaga and Barcelona at Estadio La Rosaleda, Spain, March 10, 2018. Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images

Coutinho was a member of the Barcelona squad that won back-to-back La Liga titles in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Last summer, the 29-year-old returned to Blaugrana after a successful loan spell at Bundesliga side Bayern Munich.

According to Coutinho, Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman convinced him to join his squad via phone and he immediately agreed.

"After the final of the Champions League, [Ronald] Koeman called me and told me that he wanted me to return to Barcelona. I was very happy to know that he trusted me and wanted me," Coutinho said in December.

Koeman, on the other hand, knew he didn’t make the wrong decision in handpicking Coutinho.

"He's a player that learned a lot in England [Liverpool], a lot in Bayern Munich,” the Dutchman said of Coutinho’s return last year. “My job as a coach is to get the best out of every player. And that starts by putting them in their position. I think that generates more confidence."

"All that helps but it starts with the quality in the player and Coutinho's a great player."

This past season, Coutinho was one of Koeman’s pillars in Barcelona’s attack. However, a devastating knee injury in December saw him missing the rest of the club’s campaign, having had to undergo surgery.

The Catalans have yet to close any negotiation with AC Milan for Coutinho at the moment, but the departure of Junior Firpo is already in the works.

Barcelona has agreed to sell the left-back to English Premier League side Leeds United in exchange for cash amounting to over €15 million ($17.7 million), The Athletic reported.

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