Arsenal, best-placed to sign Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho

Barcelona need to find an outlet for the ex-Liverpool playmaker, who has been offered to several Premier League clubs including Arsenal and Newcastle.

Philippe Coutinho's departure from Barcelona is in the best interests of the player and the club - the Brazilian playmaker needs to rediscover his form of old in new surroundings far from Camp Nou. Barça, on the other hand would be free of a player who rarely showed the kind of form which won Liverpool fans over in seasons gone by. And with Ferran Torres' imminent arrival, there will be even less chances for Countino in 2022. The Catalans also need to sell at least one player to register Torres next month. A return to the Premier League could suit Coutinho whose agents have been busy trying to arrange a move back to England.

Arteta approves Coutinho move

Sportitalia journalist Rudy Galetti reports that the 29-year-old's representatives have been in contact with Arsenal and negotiations are at an advanced stage with Gunners manager Mikel Arteta giving his approval for the operation to go ahead. It is hoped that conversations between Coutinho's agents and Arsenal will be stepped up in the coming days. Earlier this week, Sport reported that the player's agents were in England sounding out a number of clubs. Other possible destinations include Everton, Leicester City and Newcastle but as things stand, it appears that Arsenal are the best placed to land the Brazil international.

Even if Coutinho does end up in London, he won't be guaranteed regular playing time. So far this season, he has made a total 16 appearances in LaLiga and the Champions League - five of them in the starting line-up. But Coutinho would face stiff competition to break into Arteta's Arsenal side with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, as well as ex-Real Madrid midfielder Martin Ødegaard, competing for a place. Coutinho would also need to build back his rhythm to handle the pace of the Premier League as well as reproduce the kind of form he showed a few seasons back at Anfield.