Sources: Coutinho makes up mind on signing for Newcastle United
Philippe Coutinho is not interested in signing for Newcastle United this month, Football Insider can reveal.
The Saudi-backed club are one of multiple Premier League clubs who have registered their interest in the Barcelona playmaker.
But a recruitment source has told Football Insider that Coutinho, 29, does not want to join a club involved in a relegation battle.
This site revealed earlier on Thursday that Aston Villa are the current frontrunners in the January race for the former Liverpool superstar.
Arsenal are also pushing hard for the Brazil international as he looks to secure a Premier League return.
Newcastle have made contact over a potential deal but their precarious league position has put Coutinho off.
The playmaker has been made available by Barcelona this month as the Catalan giants look to raise some much-needed funds.
The La Liga heavyweights want £50million but are unlikely to get anywhere near their asking price due to Coutinho’s form.
The Brazilian joined Barca from Liverpool for a club-record fee of £146m in January 2018.
He has struggled with injuries and was shipped out to Bayern Munich during the 2019/20 season.
However, his lack of form has not stopped numerous Premier League clubs from registering their interest this month.
Newcastle had hoped to tempt him to Tyneside under the new ownership.
The Magpies are in the market for multiple new signings this month.
However, the club’s lowly league position means Coutinho wants a move elsewhere.
The Magpies currently sit 19th in the Premier League table, two points off safety but having played a game more than 17th-placed Watford.
In other news, finance guru predicts Newcastle United to outdo Manchester City as deals negotiated for “household names”.