Dimitar Berbatov thinks a move for Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho would be ‘pointless’ for Manchester United this summer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is looking to bolster his creative options further in the upcoming transfer window after the January signing of Bruno Fernandes, and Coutinho appears surplus to requirements in Catalonia.
The 27-year-old’s dream move to the Nou Camp from Liverpool in 2018 hasn’t worked out as planned, and he could now be looking for another club after spending this season on loan at Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.
And according to ESPN, Coutinho, who is valued at around £50m by Transfermarkt, has been offered to a number of clubs including United.
Former United striker Berbatov does not dispute the midfielder’s class, but doesn’t believe there is any sense in a transfer to Old Trafford due to United’s current midfield options.
“Everyone thought he would do great when he moved to Barcelona but it didn’t work out, sometimes you need to step back to go forwards, he will go to a good team there is no question about that, but he needs the trust of a manager to believe in him and make him the main man so that he can play calm and be free to do what he does,” he told Betfair, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“Other people will see him linked with a move to United and they will point out his connections with Liverpool and how he would never be forgiven if he switched to Old Trafford, but honestly, United don’t need him right now.
“Bruno Fernandes is a very similar player; he really hit the ground running and looks to be a very promising signing so I don’t think there would be any point in United signing him.
“Pogba is coming back, Fernandes is there, McTominay is producing great football as well, they have enough quality there so signing Coutinho would be pointless.”
We still believe Solskjaer would benefit from another dynamic midfielder in the summer window, but agree that Coutinho is not the type of player United should be looking at.
Moreover, the ESPN’s report also claimed that the Norwegian boss has already decided against a move for the midfielder.
Instead, United are focusing their rebuild around young, rising talent and versatile Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish is said to be high on the club’s transfer list.
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