CHELSEA have a clear route to sign Philippe Coutinho after Liverpool reportedly rejected the chance to sign their former playmaker over the phone.
The Brazilian left Anfield for a £142million switch to Barcelona in January 2018 but failed to live up to expectations and was shipped out on loan to Bayern Munich last summer.
Some reports suggest Frank Lampard’s side are “close” to agreeing a deal for the 27-year-old former Reds star.
But SunSport understands the Blues are yet to make an official approach.
However, their chances of landing the player may have increased after the Merseysiders rejected him on the phone, according to the Star.
Coutinho’s agent Kia Joorabchian was said to be offering his man round to some of Europe’s biggest clubs including the Anfield outfit – who could lose out on £35million in bonuses from Barcelona amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Blues are hoping to snap up midfielder from the Spanish giants when he returns from his loan spell in the Bundesliga at the end of this season.
Should the move get over the line then Lamps will be tasked with repairing a career that has stalled since the life-changing move to the Nou Camp.
But, a return to the Premier League could be just the shot in the arm he needs, according to fellow countryman and Brazil legend Rivaldo.
The 2002 World Cup winner and Betfair ambassador said: “Looking at Coutinho’s last few years we can say that he didn’t achieve what was expected of him.
“But he is still has time to recover his best football and with his confidence back he could easily become the same player he was at Liverpool.
“I consider this to be just a not-so-good spell for him, but we can’t say that he is playing poorly because it would be a lie, things are simply not running as well as many would expect when he left Liverpool to sign for Barcelona.”
