The Sun
GAP TO PHIL
Pochettino fuming at Tottenham failure to sign Barcelona outcast Philippe Coutinho in summer transfer window
- 15 Nov 2019, 0:04
- Updated: 15 Nov 2019, 1:09
ONE of manager Mauricio Pochettino’s many beefs with Tottenham is their failure to pursue Philippe Coutinho in the summer.
Barcelona, who signed him from Liverpool for well over £100million, were trying to offload
the Brazilian forward on loan.
The Spurs boss had first-hand experience of
Coutinho because he coached him when he was in charge of Espanyol.
Poch had taken him from Inter Milan in 2012, signing the player until the end of the season to help them avoid relegation.
And
he wanted to sign him again this summer but lost out when Bayern Munich made their move.
Poch has complained endlessly about the need to spend big to bring his V2.0 Spurs up to scratch.
If
Coutinho had been signed, he is convinced the rebuild would already be well under way.
Playing under the Argentine in La Liga, Coutinho netted five goals in 16 appearances including a brace in a vital 5-1 win over relegation rivals Rayo Vallecano.
But he hasn't been able to
recreate his best form for Bayern - scoring just twice and recently dropped to the bench.
Back in Tottenham, only Harry Kane can boast more than three goals in the league this term.
Pochettino is continuing to rotate between Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen as he struggles to settle on
the final piece in his attacking jigsaw.
Curious about pieces like this. Normally Id just write it off as paper BS, and theres every chance it is - but theres also a running theme of pieces drip feeding in at the minute, that makes me wonder if there are people behind it. For example, saw one the other day that stated it would cost £12m to sack Poch - first Id seen such a comment - and a rather specific number. And this is Neil Ashton, not "staff writer", which also makes me wonder.
As I say, entirely likely this is just more nonsense. BUT, given the feeling around the club right now, it kind of feels like the ground work for change...