Declan Walsh

Thu 30 December 2021 9:15, UK

Everton are considering a move to sign Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho ahead of the January transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Writing via his personal Twitter account in the early hours of Thursday morning, the Sky Sports Italy journalist reported that the former Liverpool star, 29, plans to stay in Europe if he quits the Nou Camp in January.

Everton are reportedly keen on the Brazilian attacking midfielder but Romano says they are “not the only one”.

We might as well wear red

Has it passed everyone at the club by that Rafa Benitez hasn’t been a popular appointment at Everton because of his links with Liverpool?

Of course, Benitez has done a poor job in charge of the Blues so far but the fact he was heralded as a hero at Anfield made it hard for fans to warm for him.

And the same is bound to be the case for Coutinho.

Everton need to strengthen in January but we got rid of James Rodriguez earlier this year because he was a big-money player who wasn’t pulling his weight.

Coutinho was good for Liverpool but he’s been a flop at Barcelona, he’ll turn 30-years-old next summer and is bound to cost a lot of money in wages.

According to AS, he earns a whopping £323,000-a-week on his deal at Barca and “no club in the world can afford his wages”.

Barca also reportedly wanted £41.9million for Coutinho in the summer transfer window, which no one was willing to pay either.

Coutinho is a good player and would probably improve the team. Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino, as quoted by 90min, dubbed him “phenomenal” last season.

But with our Financial Fair Play issues so well-publicised, a move for the Brazilian would seem to be a bit of a kamikaze approach by Benitez.

In other Everton news, Benitez is increasingly likely to sacrifice this star player in January.

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