NEWCASTLE are in talks to sign Philippe Coutinho but the deal will only complete if their Saudi backed takeover goes through, according to reports.
The Brazilian has been on loan at Bayern Munich from Barcelona this season but the German giants will not make the deal permanent at the end of the campaign.
Newcastle are said to be ‘in talks’ to sign Philippe Coutinho
Barcelona are also unwilling to keep him on and are looking to cash in.
Newcastle are keen on landing the 27-year-old and have started discussions, according to FranceFootball.
Barca are said to want £71million for the ex-Liverpool man which means the Toon will only be able to afford the deal if the £300m Saudi backed takeover goes ahead.
However, even if their mega-rich potential new owners do take charge, the North East club will reportedly face comeptition from Everton and Tottenham who are also said to be keen.
Spurs were linked with the playmaker last summer but could not seal the deal.
And while they may still be keen on bringing him to North London, their £852million stadium loan repayments may make the deal too expensive for them this time around as well.
The Toffees on the other hand are backed by mega-wealthy Farhad Moshiri and could easily stump up the cash.
The Saudi led consortium looking to take Newcastle out of Mike Ashley’s hands are confident the FA will not veto the deal despite questions over Jamal Khashoggi’s murder and their human rights record.
Rumours the Saudis were considering pulling out of the proposed deal were dismissed in vehement terms, with bid advisors confident the League will not veto the sale.
But SunSport understands the league’s legal team have tabled a series of questions for the Saudis to answer.
They include the major issue of the illegal “theft” of the rights held in the Middle East region by beIN Sport.
The Saudis have also been probed on other concerns, in a signal that league bosses might be getting cold feet over green lighting the deal.
They are understood to include the Saudi government’s role in the murder of dissident journalist Khashoggi in their embassy in Turkey.
The ongoing civil war in Yemen and whether there would be a conflict of interests with Sheffield United already owned by a member of the Saudi royal family are other talking points.
And while suggestions the Saudis are ready to throw in the towel are not accurate, the forensic scale of the league probe is a sign that there are still significant internal concerns.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley agreed the deal in April, with the Saudi state-run Public Investment Fund agreeing to shell out 80 per cent of the asking price.
Coutnho has been continually linked with a return to England after it emerged Bayern would not be triggering their option to buy.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal – have been linked after Liverpool rejected the chance to re-sign their former star.
Mikel Arteta recently described Coutinho as his dream signing.
And the Gunners’ Spanish boss reckons the ex-Inter star will undergo a resurgence if he moves to the Emirates, and will “lead Arsenal to compete against both Liverpool and Manchester City”.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
