Barcelona boss Quique Setien has dispelled the rumors that Philippe Coutinho could soon depart from Camp Nou for a possible return to the Premier League. Setien hinted that a spot in Barca still awaits for the Brazilian winger after a loan spell in Bayern Munich.
Coutinho transferred to Barcelona in 2018 for a giant fee of £142 million, but he struggled to find the form playing in La Liga. The Catalans then shipped the midfielder to Bundesliga for season-long stay, and reports said Bayern is unwilling to make Coutinho's stay in Munich permanent.
Setien said he expects that Coutinho will be back with the Spanish giants at the start of next season, but he noted that while the player still has a future with the club, the Brazilian has to make it known he wants to return.
"I don't know if he wants to come back or go away again, I have to talk to him to ask him. He is a great player, no doubt about it," Liverpool Echo reported the Barca manager as saying.
Setien also touched on the reports that Coutinho is up for sale, saying that if there are sides serious enough to acquire the star, then Barcelona will sit down and talk. But the coach added there is a high price to pay for the deal to push ahead.
"You have to pay the clause or a transfer fee to Barca," Setien said.
The coach added: "He is still a Barcelona player ... I think he can be here at the beginning of next season."
Prior to this clarification from the Barcelona boss, it is believed that Coutinho is packing for the journey back to England. According to Metro, top clubs like Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United have expressed interest in the Brazil international but Chelsea and Liverpool have emerged as the more possible destinations.
The Reds, however, have already indicated reservations in taking back Coutinho. Club boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted that inserting back the winger to his lineup could cause disruption, which he is unwilling to risk.
So the frontrunner appears to be Chelsea, and the report said the Blues could be convinced to make a deal that will involve N'Golo Kante. The Frenchman is of great interest to the Catalan giants and will likely propose a swap deal that will send Coutinho to Stamford Bridge.
Kante, however, has stated that he plans to stay with the side of Frank Lampard and will only agree to a transfer if he is forced out.
