Bayern Munich had been on the market looking to bolster their depth upfront, particularly with a player that could have been adept to play on a wider role if needed. And after negotiations to sign Leroy Sane broke down, Die Roten have finally acquired the top player they were aiming for all summer.
According to several sources, the reigning Bundesliga champions have acquired FC Barcelona forward Philippe Coutinho on a season-long loan. The German giants will also have an option to buy the Brazilian once the 2019/20 season ends for a €120million fee, although it won’t be a mandatory purchase. Meanwhile, Barca will receive between €15M and €20M for the season-long loan.
“We can confirm an agreement in principle with Bayern Munich for the loan of Coutinho,” Barcelona’s director Guillermo Amor explained. The former Liverpool star didn’t even make the bench for Friday’s match against Athletic Bilbao — where Barca lost 1-0 on the road — since his departure was a priority for the club.
Coutinho leaves Barcelona after an underwhelming stint. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, he never looked like the dominant player that destroyed opposing defences in the Premier League featuring for Liverpool. The Brazilian international scored 11 goals and added five assists in 54 appearances across all competitions for Los Blaugranas last season.