Man Utd and Chelsea set for Philippe Coutinho transfer scramble: Barcelona ace orders exit

The Brazilian has failed to hold down a place at the Nou Camp since making a move from Liverpool in January last year.

And Coutinho has told the Catalan club he wants to be sold this summer.

Cadena SER claim the the 26-year-old is upset things haven’t gone as well as he expected and he is ready to leave Barcelona as a result.

The report claims Coutinho’s agent has told the club he expects to leave this summer.

Coutinho made 54 appearances in all competitions last season, netting 11 times and providing five assists.

Barcelona have realised they will not be able to get rid of the midfielder easily and have set an £80million asking price as a result.

The La Liga champions paid £105m initially for Coutinho.

And Liverpool have also received £13m of the £37m in add-ons since, according to The Sun.

Now Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are all set to battle for the signature of Coutinho in what could be a summer-long transfer saga.

The Red Devils have been boosted by comments made by European football expert Julien Laurens.

He insists PSG do not have the funds to be able to afford Coutinho this summer.

“How? With what money?” he said on ESPN FC.

“There’s no room anywhere in the wage bill for Coutinho, as a transfer fee for Coutinho.

“It’s not even a position that is there priority.

“So for me it’s, and from what I’ve heard from the club, there’s nothing in that story at all.”

United are set to complete the £15m signing of Daniel James from Swansea imminently.

He will be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first new recruit as he looks to strengthen.

source: express.co.uk