Leicester City To Make Shock Move To Bring $200M Star Back To Premier League: Report

Leicester City are reportedly planning to make a shock move for FC Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho at the underway summer market.

The 'Foxes' are expected to make a $24 million bid to bring Coutinho back to Premier League ahead of the 2021-22 season, reported Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo. Coutinho, who had a brilliant run personally at Liverpool FC, has struggled to replicate the same at Barcelona. Therefore, the Catalans are ready to get the midfielder off their wage bill this summer.

Barcelona are willing to offload Coutinho either permanently or on loan, according to Goal.

Coutinho, who recently turned 29, is currently at home in Brazil and is recovering from the surgery he underwent in April for his meniscus problems. While Barcelona are looking to bolster their squad for the 2021-21 season, he has been put on the transfer market this summer.

Coutinho, who was once linked with Arsenal and Newcastle United, is now being chased by Leicester City. The head coach of the 'Foxes' Brendon Rogers, who was the Brazilian midfielder’s manager at Liverpool, would want to reunite with the talented player.

Barcelona signed Coutinho until 2023 during the 2018 January window at a fee of $179 million that could have now risen to $200 million, if conditions were met. Barcelona still owe the Reds around $60 million. The sale of Coutinho could reduce the debt of the La Liga club that is expected to be over $1.4 billion.

Despite playing 90 competitive matches for Barcelona, scoring 23 goals and 14 assists, Coutinho has struggled to make a permanent place in Ronald Koeman’s squad. During his loan stint with Bayern Munich in 2019-20 campaign, he scored twice and assisted once against Barcelona as the German club had humiliated Coutinho’s parent club 8-2 in the Champions League.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was keen on keeping Coutinho during the 2017-18 season. However, after five full seasons going without a trophy, Coutinho was adamant about leaving. As soon as an offer from Barcelona arrived, the Brazilian midfielder jumped on it.

"Stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honor. Go somewhere else, to Barcelona, to Bayern Munich, to Real Madrid, and you will be just another player. Here you can be something more," Klopp had reportedly told Coutinho.