Audio By Carbonatix
Philippe Coutinho is one of the players who will suffer from the end of the Ronald Koeman era. He's returned to the bench under Sergi Barjuan and the feeling at the club is that the moment has arrived to move him on permanently as it's unlikely he will get minutes within the style of play Xavi Hernandez will apply.
The Brazilian has been a substitute in the last two games and didn't even come on vs. Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday. The idea is that he leaves in January, but the club have had the same idea in the past.
Barça have tried to move Coutinho on in each of the last two summers, but given the lack of offers, Koeman defended him, asked for him to stay, and said he was convinced he would deliver.
In the Dutchman's first year in charge, Coutinho was playing regularly until he got injured in December, missing the rest of the season. This season, he's also featured since coming back from injury but not as regularly as previously.
The Catalan club is not happy with his performances, although they praise his professionalism. Proof of that is that Barjuan has left him on the bench twice and it doesn't look like he will get many minutes at Celta Vigo this weekend.
In a 4-3-3 system, with Ousmane Dembele back, Coutinho will be a substitute in all likelihood and his high salary means the club must look for a definitive solution. Barça want to transfer him once and for all and expect Newcastle could try and sign him. In any case, the club would accept a loan with an obligatory buy option.
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