Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should prioritise a move for Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, rather than being tempted into a move for Philippe Coutinho.
According to the Mirror, Barcelona have made it clear they are prepared to let Coutinho go out on loan again next season. He is also valued at £63m for a permanent move by Transfermarkt, though we feel the La Liga giants would demand a much higher asking price for his signature.
The Brazilian playmaker has spent this term at Bayern Munich where he has scored eight goals and contributed 6 assists in 22 Bundesliga appearances.
News of Coutinho’s availably has inevitably prompted reports of interest from a host of Premier League clubs, including United, Arsenal and Tottenham.
Despite failing to live up to expectations in Catalonia, the 27-year-old is still a hugely talented player who is proven in England after his time at Liverpool.
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But Coutinho’s history at United’s bitterest rivals is just one of the reasons that makes a move to Old Trafford unfeasible. Coutinho is too similar to Bruno Fernandes, who has solved Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s huge problem in attacking midfield.
We cannot foresee a way that Coutinho can fit into the Norwegian’s system, as he is best utilised in behind the striker and does not offer the pace of a wide-man.
Instead, Solskjaer should be targeting Villa star Grealish, who is widely expected to leave his boyhood club this summer to further his career.
As reported by Manchester Evening News, United have expressed their interest in the 24-year-old, who was pushing for a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad this summer.
Grealish has scored seven goals and has six assists in the Premier League this season. This is an impressive return for the player who has been the driving force behind a struggling Villa’s survival bid.
Solskjaer still needs to boost his attacking options, and Grealish is exactly the type of versatile player that the Norwegian could benefit from.
Grealish can operate in the inside left channel where he has been so effective for Villa this season, as well as in a midfield three. He is a player of serious star-quality entering the prime of his career and we feel a move to United would only improve his game further.
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