Man Utd could help Leicester seal shock Philippe Coutinho transfer due to James Maddison

Manchester United could help Leicester seal a stunning move to sign Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho, according to reports in Spain. The Foxes are said to be interested in signing the Brazilian playmaker.

United are one out of a host of teams looking at Coutinho ahead of the summer transfer window.

The 27-year-old is expected to leave Barcelona, and has been linked with a bevy of clubs.

The ex-Liverpool star is claimed to regret his exit from Anfield, and wants a return to England.

But that won’t be easy, with Barcelona demanding upwards of £100million for his services.

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It is believed that Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, United and Leicester are all keen on signing him in the summer, though none want to pay that price.

Instead, they view a loan deal as being the most financially appealing option, in order to bypass a hefty transfer fee.

That’s where Leicester could end up having the upper hand, however.

Spanish outlet SPORT reports that the Foxes could end up leading the chase for Coutinho depending on the future of James Maddison.

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Maddison has been a constant transfer target for United, who have been linked with an £80m bid.

And if that deal were to go through, the report states that Leicester would try to reinvest that money in Coutinho.

Brendan Rodgers is eager to work alongside Coutinho, having managed him at the player’s peak while at Liverpool.

While a move to Leicester seems unlikely, it could be his best chance at reinventing himself as an elite player in the Champions League.

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The Foxes look set to secure Champions League football next season, despite the uncertainty surrounding the current season.

If Leicester aren’t able to go after Coutinho by using the Maddison money, it is possible that they will enter into the loan race, too.

SPORT claims that Barca have sounded out a deal to offer up to clubs, which would include an option to buy the star next year.

Any team taking him on would pay an initial fee of £26m, as well as his salary.

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