Liverpool have brought in the Inter Milan midfielder Philippe Coutinho in a deal worth around £ 8.5 million. The 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder has been rated as one of the best prospects in world football, but he has been unable to get regular first-team action at the Italian club.
He will now become the second major signing from Liverpool in the January transfer window after the £ 12 million arrival of Daniel Sturridge. Philippe Coutinho has said that this is a major step in his career and he has praised the history of Liverpool.
Coutinho was also subjected to interest from the Premier league club Southampton, but he decided to join Liverpool instead. Coutinho spent the last season on loan at the Spanish club Espanyol, who were managed by the current Southampton manager. It threatened to swing the deal in favour of the relegation strugglers, but Liverpool have managed to get their target. Coutinho played for the Brazilian club Vasco da Gama before moving to Inter Milan in a £ 4.5 million deal. He is an attacking midfielder who is capable of playing as a second striker as well. It remains to be seen if he will be able to start alongside Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.
“I’m feeling very happy, it’s a very important step in my career. Liverpool is a great club with great players. We’ve always heard about Liverpool’s history in Brazil. I know they believe in me and my football,” said the player on the official website of the club. “We’re always delighted when we get the players we go after. It has been a successful transfer window for us, coming off the back of acquiring Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea and now Philippe from Inter Milan,” said Liverpool’s director Ian Ayre. The player has won Brazilian international cap to his name.