A host of reports have emerged from Spain over the past 24 hours regarding our alleged interest in bringing Phillip Coutinho to St James’ Park this summer.
SPORT – a paper based in Catalonia – claimed last night that we were planning to jump on Aston Villa’s indecision over a £33m permanent deal for the Barcelona loanee, saying we’d even offer the Brazilian a £1m sweetener if he were to join.
How true that report was remains to be seen, however another Spanish outlet are now reporting that the 29-year-old has no interest in joining compatriots Bruno Guimaraes or Joelinton on Tyneside.
Mundo Deportivo insist that Newcastle are ‘not an option‘ for the Brazilian, stating he would rather accept a ‘lower salary‘ elsewhere than commit to a move that ‘does not attract his attention’.
Aston Villa have an option to turn the former Liverpool star’s loan move into a permanent one this summer, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the player ends up pushing for something bigger – especially if this new project at Newcastle doesn’t interest him.
