Philippe Coutinho is reluctant to join Manchester United as he does not wish to ‘stain’ his image with Liverpool.
Coutinho has long been linked with a return to the Premier League after leaving Liverpool for Barcelona in January 2018.
United and Chelsea have both been linked with the Brazilian, whose apparent desire to leave did rather feel like something of a red herring in an otherwise quiet winter window.
Coutinho has struggled to settle in Barcelona since his move from Merseyside, and Spanish newspaper Sport provide another update on his future on Tuesday.
They say that PSG and Chelsea ‘stand out’ as potential suitors as they fit the criteria not only of needing a player in Coutinho’s mould, but of being able to afford him.
But with any possible PSG move relying on the sale of compatriot Neymar and Chelsea facing a transfer ban, many of Coutinho’s avenues out of Barca are being blocked.
A return to the Premier League remains ‘a true destination’ however, with Chelsea’s Brazilian contingent giving them the edge. ‘The challenge of playing the leadership role of Eden Hazard’ is also appealing.
Sport add that heading back to Liverpool ‘does not seem plausible’ for a player who spent five years at Anfield as his transfer request left his relationship with the club and Jurgen Klopp ‘scratched’.
But Coutinho retains a level of loyalty towards his former club, and ‘the main stumbling block’ preventing a move to United is the fact that he does not wish to ‘stain’ his time with Liverpool.
For what it’s worth, Sport also rule out a move to Everton on that basis. They’ll be devastated.