Arsenal and Tottenham are set to battle it out during the January transfer window for the signing of ex-Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho.
The 29-year-old has endured a really tough time in Spain, featuring in just 96 games for Barcelona since his move and as per some reports, he is looking to return to the Premier League during the January transfer window.
Both the North London sides have shown an interest in signing the midfielder on a loan deal and according to former PL defender Glen Johnson, Coutinho should opt for a move to Spurs and not Arsenal.
‘He’s linked with the two big north London clubs and if he was to go to one of them then I’d say Tottenham if I’m being honest,’ Johnson told Bettingodds.com, as quoted by Metro.
‘Philippe knows that he’s not in a great position at the moment and if he was to go to an Arsenal side who are struggling, then that could affect him even more.
‘Arsenal obviously have some very good players, but they’re so far away from the top four which is evident from their performances that they can’t afford to have a luxury player such as Philippe Coutinho.
‘You need to build the foundations of a team before you can start prioritising the signing of a number ten. In general, Tottenham are going in a better direction than Arsenal.’
Will Philippe Coutinho choose Spurs over Arsenal?
Both Arsenal and Spurs have started the 2021/22 season really poorly and as things are going right now, neither of them look like making it back into the Champions League next season.
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Philippe Coutinho himself has endured a really frustrating time in Spain so he will have to join a club that is on the rise and where he can get regular playing time.
The Gunners have signed Martin Odegaard during the summer so if the former Liverpool man chooses to join the Emirates outfit then he will have to fight for a place in the starting line-up.
But at Spurs, he could move straight into the first XI since players like Dele Alli and Lo Celso have failed to impress so far this season. Nuno is in desperate need of a creative midfielder and he will welcome someone like Philippe Coutinho with open arms.
Given Barca’s financial situation, a loan move looks really probable and if the reports are true then the ex-Liverpool man will have to choose between the two North London sides.
