Philippe Coutinho has landed in Germany to finalize his season-long loan move to Bayern Munich. The Brazil international is expected to undergo a medical on Sunday before agreeing a deal that includes an option for the Bundesliga champions to purchase him on a permanent basis.
Bayern have agreed to take Coutinho on loan for one season and the deal is expected to include an option for a permanent move.
After Bayern were held 2-2 by Hertha Berlin on Friday night, CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said:
‘I can confirm [Bayern sporting director] Hasan Salihamidzic and I were in Barcelona last Wednesday. And we reached an agreement with both the club and the player over a transfer.
‘The player is expected here in Munich in the next days, Sunday or Monday at the latest. He’ll do his medical and then sign his contract.
‘I must thank Barcelona. I am on very friendly terms with the Barcelona president [Josep Maria Bartomeu] and that, at the end of the day, maybe helped us transfer this player to FC Bayern.
‘It’s a very important player for us, not only because of his name but also because of the way he plays. His quality will help our attacking game. We are happy.’
Asked about Coutinho following Barca’s disappointing LaLiga opener, head coach Valverde told Movistar: ”
It is a situation that last season when the league ended the player had it in his head.
“This has come up, he has accepted and hopefully he is lucky.”
Signed from Liverpool in January 2018 in a reported €160million transfer, a move that saw him become the world’s second most expensive player, Coutinho struggled to find his best form at Camp Nou and as a result only made 22 La Liga starts last season for the eventful Spanish champions.
Coutinho had been linked to Paris Saint-Germain as a potential makeweight in a swap deal that would have sent compatriot Neymar back to Barca, while Premier League clubs Arsenal and Tottenham are said to have investigated loan moves before their transfer window closed.
