Arsenal backed to sign Coutinho on one condition after £7.5m update – pundit
Noel Whelan has backed Arsenal to sign Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona if he can prove his fitness and desire.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 29-year-old would “fit straight into” Mikel Arteta’s system if he still has the hunger and sharpness to deliver in the Premier League.
As reported by the Mirror on Monday (3 January), Arsenal want to sign Coutinho this month on a loan-to-buy deal with an obligatory £5million fee.
The Gunners are reportedly willing to cover his £200,000-a-week wages.
However, the report claims Barcelona want Coutinho sold for £7.5million this month.
Whelan insisted he would only be worth the money if he can demonstrate the same mentality and quality he did at Liverpool.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “He’s been off the radar for quite a while now. He was signed by Barcelona for a hell of a lot of money.
“It didn’t work out for him there. Then he goes to Bayern Munich and it doesn’t work out there for him either. It seems like he’s kind of lost his way a little bit and that bit of desire he had when he was at Liverpool.
“But there’s no doubt that he’s still at a very good, young age with the experience behind him. I think a player like that would fit straight into an Arsenal style of play and slot straight into their team. There’s no doubt about it.
“It’s whether you can get the best out of him. Is that fitness level and that sharpness still there in his game?
“If it’s not, then there’s no point going out there and spending that kind of money on bringing a loan player in of that stature.
“You might have people in the youth side that could probably, maybe, give you a bit better. When it comes to experience and learning off players like that, you can only learn off them if they come with the right attitude.
“He has to show them the same amount of quality he did when he was at Liverpool.”
Coutinho has started five times in 16 appearances for Barcelona this season.
He only played 14 times for the Catalan giants last term after suffering a serious knee injury.
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