Philippe Coutinho to Everton: What it means, if it’s an actual possibility
By Trent Nelson
Philippe Coutinho has had a difficult journey since leaving Liverpool for Barcelona; now at Bayern München on loan, it seems equally as unlikely he will be back with the German outfit as with the Catalonian giants.
Philippe Coutinho has been linked to teams across England for months, it is true; Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal all were whispered about. The newest name to that list is now Everton however; yes, with Carlo Ancelotti as the Toffees boss, big-name acquisitions have been promised and they will have to come for Everton to continue to progress as a football club.
While we have spoken about James Rodriguez, Jonathan Ikoné and many others, Coutinho has not come into the discussion; why? Likely because the ambition of Everton has not reached the level of financial consistency recently to suggest that such a highly regarded player was affordable.
If Ancelotti can get the player back into the form he reached under Jurgen Klopp at crosstown rival Liverpool, Philippe Coutinho could be both a steal for Everton, as well as the maestro necessary to power the Royal Blue engine to the next level in the Premier League.
Philippe Coutinho: Why it makes sense on multiple levels for Everton
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For anyone who has watched the Toffees this campaign, the midfield was a gigantic issue, regardless of the manger. Under Marco Silva, the situation looked in a regressive state from the previous year; under Don Carlo Ancelotti, the situation was improved, but innovation is necessary.
In Philippe Coutinho, Everton would have serious talent, able to connect the middle of the pitch to the attacking front of Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Moise Kean and Alex Iwobi. His footballing intelligence, alongside his experience, could prove vital for Everton.
The brand of football Ancelotti wishes to play requires an intelligent mind to narrate the offensive end of the game and the Brazilian wizard has the ability, in the proper circumstance.
The aforementioned tools at his disposal, should he come to Everton, are both young and immense in skill and nature; harnessing them with the right conductor is the surest way to see them perform at their peak levels.
Coutinho has the ability to accentuate this talent to unbelievable proportions and Ancelotti has the spirit to get the best out of the mercurial midfield maestro. This improved attacking football could provide protection for the defensive backline as well, which sorely requires innovation itself this summer.
Should Everton have the finances to garner a partner for Coutinho in this new Merseyside venture, the price of Philippe Coutinho could be seen as a major reason how it became possible.
The Finance of Football in 2020
Philippe Coutinho has been losing value ever since he left Liverpool; with the current global circumstance, it is imaginable that a player like Coutinho could become bargain bin, relatively speaking.
As teams contract, having dealt with the ramifications of this global event on the financial, as well as human, level, getting cash for players will become more important than the precise valuation the player may have garnered before these events.
If names like Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr., Saul Niguez and Lautaro Martinez may all be affected, what is to suggest a lesser player like Coutinho may not be more drastically affected still? There is nothing to suggest this and so, should Everton be a club with finances, they stand to benefit as a football club.
This is the real conundrum for teams across the world; where do the funds for the summer come from? Can the season and its assorted tournaments be salvaged? In the Netherlands, they’ve decided it cannot; in England, the Premier League tentatively looks to start up again in the succeeding couple months.
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The innovations teams make this summer could have long-standing ramifications, as fewer teams may be able to purchase than normal; Philippe Coutinho could be an innovation that shines back in Liverpool for years to come, just for the Toffees this time.