Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho makes PSG transfer decision amid Neymar swap plot

Barcelona star Coutinho has been linked with moves to the likes of PSG, Manchester United and Liverpool this summer having toiled at the Nou Camp last season.

The Brazil international endured a wretched campaign, even admitting as such recently by saying: “I have not had a good season. My performances have been a lot worse than I expected they would.

“The only way to improve and gain confidence is through hard work, and I have been working hard.”

Barcelona have been backed to try and include Coutinho as part of negotiations for PSG’s Neymar.

Two years ago, Neymar caused outrage in Catalonia when he chose to leave the club for the Parc des Princes.

But the Brazilian feels that was the wrong move and is now pushing to return.

And Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo say Coutinho is open to moving to PSG as part of the operation – but the Premier League is still his priority.

The deal would be dependent on whether the Ligue 1 titans would accept the struggling Barcelona star.

The player’s agent Kia Joorabchian recently insisted a move to United was a non-starter due to the player’s respect for former club Liverpool.

Manchester United is a great club, I have players there and I have all the respect for them, but as far as Philippe goes, it would be an extremely difficult to a near-impossible move,” Joorabchian told talkSPORT.

“I would be very difficult for Philippe to play for any of Liverpool’s rivals, because he has such a great affinity towards Liverpool. His time there was fantastic.

“Like all big players at some point you want to experience a different thing in your career because your career is very short, but it [his Liverpool exit] has no reflection on the fact his heart and affinity is very much with Liverpool.

“I know he was cheering every time they had the chance. Lucas Leiva is the same way. A lot of these guys who leave Liverpool remain Liverpool fans because of the fans and the passion they have.

“So, it would be hard for him to go to a rival. Every time we’ve spoken about it we’ve had that same conversation, he would find it hard to play for another club in the Premier League.”

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, ruled out bringing Coutinho back to Anfield.

The Barcelona star left the Reds in January 2018, believing the grass to be greener on the other side.

And Klopp said: “It’s not about that. I like Phil, I think he’s a fantastic footballer and all that stuff, but it would be a big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big-money signing and it’s not our year for that.

“It’s just not possible.

“As I said, having him would make each team better – us included – but I really hope that he finds his luck at Barcelona.”

source: express.co.uk