Coutinho? Is there logic to this potential deal?

Morning all.

When I first read about a potential swap deal between Coutinho and Aubameyang I thought the idea was stupid. After all, he’s 29 years old which goes against the kind of profile Arsenal have already added this summer. I also thought this smacks of laziness by the club because he’s Brazilian and possibly just another Edu easy option. Harsh as that might sound.

Then I thought again. Aubameyang has been out of form for a considerable time, a new challenge at Barcelona might give him a new lease of life. The same could be said about Coutinho and it’s not like he doesn’t know what the Premier League is all about. If Willian is to depart, having another experienced player in his place wouldn’t be such a bad idea would it?

The problem is wages. Would Coutinho agree to take a big cut in his salary? If he’s terribly unhappy in Spain, maybe, after all, it’s not like he needs to worry about his next bill which drops on his doormat.

Then we have an unhappy Arsenal player in Aubameyang, our captain who is hardly leading the team by example. In fact it’s more likely that his presence is having a detrimental effect on the team. This is one way Mikel Arteta can move an unhappy player on without the club suffering financially.

Plus there’s one other bonus, Mikel Arteta can appoint a new captain, a player who does care about the club and will lead by example.

Another potential player swap, again with Barcelona and that’s Hector Bellerin and Emerson Royal. According to transfer market, both players are valued the same, £22m. The difference between them is age and height. I’m liking him already. I jest of course but a bit more height at the back wouldn’t go amiss. Strength too. Oh, and he’s Brazilian. Again, if this deal does go through, Arsenal move on another unhappy player who according to reports is so desperate to leave, he’d take a cut in wages. That’ll be sweet music to Barcelona who are in a very difficult financial state.

Arsenal are clearly struggling to sell the players they want to as apart from a number of academy players and Joe Willock, none of the first team squad have moved on. Even Sead Kolasinac and Lucas Torreira are on the books yet neither are likely to play for Arsenal again.

The club are still in talks with Real Madrid for Martin Ødegaard according to Sky Sports and if Aubameyang goes, surely a striker will be signed. And we still need a keeper.

All within the next two weeks. As for Coutinho, I’m getting splinters.

See you in the comments

 

 

 

46 thoughts on “Coutinho? Is there logic to this potential deal?

  1. Cicero says:

    Good morning Rico.

    Whether or not Aubameyang goes or stays, whether or not Lacazette goes or stays, we need to sign an out and out striker. Someone who can bring us 15/20 goals a season.

  2. Cicero says:

    Now that the Chavs have got Lukaku back, how about a cheeky offer to take Werner on loan….with Chelsea paying 50% of his wages. 😉

  3. potter says:

    Barcelona’s players are reported to have accepted a 50% pay cut because of the clubs financial position . Is this why Coutinho’s agent is looking to get him out of there ?
    However his annual salary in pounds is 7.3 million whereas Aubameyang is on £13 million a year , which leaves quite a bit of wriggle room to do a deal even if we keep paying a bit towards Auba in Spain
    .It makes some sense if Willian goes but if he stays two aging Brazillians on the books although nice company for EDU is too much.
    Still it would keep Joorabchian in the luxury that he has become accustomed to..
    With no money available for purchasing , pack shuffling will continue to be the name of the game . Personally i would offer them Auba and Willian and take Coutinho and Neto the keeper . Two Brazillians for a different two
    We get a keeper and a Willian replacement and they get a forward and a player that needs to find his mojo again.
    All we need now is a right back so the Royal / Bellerin swap suits that , and a forward to be solved.

    The baggage carousel at El Prat would be a busy place for a few days.

  4. Aussie Geoff says:

    Emerson royal in a straight swap for Bellerin ? I would say yes depending on his weekly wages , there must be something for Barcelona to want him and Bellerin’s best days are past him.

    Coutinho in a straight swap for Auba ? I not sure his age and wages are a major issue how ever his experience in the premier League could work in our favour to help guide the younger players.

  5. Aussie Geoff says:

    Rico I would love a new keeper but some thing tells me no matter who we get Arteta will still pick Leno

  6. rico says:

    I think Coutinho has wanted out of there for a while if the newspapers are to be believed. He’s on a similar wage to Aubameyang so financially we’d be no worse off and we’d have a younger player in the team.

    The ideal solution would be to find a way to get Aubameyang back on track and that’s Arteta’s job, although it’s fair to say, some players often just don’t give a toss regardless.

  7. allezkev says:

    It’s all about wages and if we signed Coutinho, which sounds great because he’s a good player (or he was at Liverpool) then we give him what, 3 or 4 year contract on mega wages, no sell on value, injury prone, only way he’s going is down, so no for me.

    No more Joorabchien players, Tim Lewis do your job!

  8. allezkev says:

    Aubameyang has always dreamed of playing for Barcelona so it’s possible that he’d take a pay cut to join them but no Coutinho in exchange for me.

  9. Cicero says:

    Most of that dreaming was done while he was in the opposing teams penalty area supposedly trying to score us a goal.

  10. potter says:

    According to El Mundo Deportivo , Coutinho has said no to Arsenal , if true that makes the whole discussion academic.

    badly translated quote :- In the so-called summer of barter, although state clubs are going their own way spending and spending, in England it is being said that Barça would be interested in including Coutinho in an operation to swap the Barca striker. for Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as reported by Sky Sports, but the environment of the Brazilian footballer ( that would be Joorabchien ) denied that such a possibility existed.

    The goal is a 200 million reduction. now that Messi is gone we have less need to reduce it. However we still need to reduce by 65 or 70% more as we are still exceeding the ratios in excess.”

    Don’t be surprised if they ask for Bellerin . but even so their increase , even if we took both Emerson and Neto , would be high if he didn’t take a reduction .

    Barca need to shift players as do we , the juggling act is how much it will cost both clubs.

  11. Cicero says:

    A direct quote from Barca president Joan Laporta, Barcelona’s debt is now £1.5 BILLION! They ended last season with a loss of €451 million. When Laporta took over as president earlier this year he had to ask for a loan of €80 million as they couldn’t pay their wage bill. €673 million are owed to banks.

    Madrid’s debt is €901 million. Juventus’ debt is £752 million

    Let’s not forget that the three instigators of the European Super League, Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid are still signed up the the break-away league and are taking legal action to force the move through.

  12. rico says:

    MAN CITY ‘MONITORING MOORS’ HUDLIN’

    Manchester City are among the clubs chasing a player who has been described as ‘the tallest outfield professional player in Britain.’

    Non-League side Solihull Moors 6ft 9in striker Kyle Hudlin is being monitored by the Premier League champions, according to The Athletic.

    The 21-year-old is also being watched by Middlesbrough and Cardiff City.

    Cripes, 6’ 9” – he might get his head on the end of one of Arsenal’s crosses. 😂

  13. Sue says:

    Hi Rico.. There was a time I’d have loved Coutinho at Arsenal – about 5 years ago 😄
    It’s a no from me – high wages, injuries, recipe for disaster!! I always thought Auba promised his Grandad that one day he’d play for Real Madrid….

    I’d take Luke Ayling all day long though!

    Cicero, Werner??!! That guy who’s always offside? I want to steer clear of West London for the time being!

    Think we’re going to end up with Ramsdale.. he’s pushing, MA’s pushing (the panic button?! 😄). Going to be a crazy couple of weeks methinks

  14. rico says:

    Hi Sue, I too think it’ll be a busy couple of weeks. This time next week, we’ll probably be saying it’s going to be a busy week. Then it’ll be deadline day and then we move… 😂

  15. Aussie Geoff says:

    I understand clubs getting into debt because they built a new stadium,
    how ever looking at the debt some clubs have no wonder they were trying to get a super League up and running, hoping they could make more money to pay back their loans.

  16. rico says:

    Yes Geoff, just what Stan Kroenke and co wanted not no doubt. If the other clubs win their legal case, I wonder if English clubs will try again.

  17. potter says:

    Chelsea have just announced that Barkley , Drinkwater and Bakayoko are surplus to requirement also quite a few others are coming up as freebies . The movement is starting.

  18. Rick says:

    Evening Rico and the House.
    Rico I see that Azeez has scored for Readin again
    in tonights game. Have you spoken to your
    family about him yet?

  19. Sue says:

    Odegaard (permanent) edging closer according to Ornstein. Trained away from Real’s first team today..
    So by my reckoning if Rico pops out tomorrow, we’ll get him over the line 😆

  20. Aussie Geoff says:

    Rico if the other clubs win their court case then I recon the English clubs will try to join again

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