Chelsea opinion: Coutinho doesn’t suit Maurizio Sarri’s style of play

According to recent reports by the Daily Mail, Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho is being linked with a possible summer move to Premier League giants Chelsea as the Blues look to strengthen in the upcoming transfer window owing to the Eden Hazard transfer saga.

While the Belgian has been touted to join Real Madrid in the summer, whether or not Coutinho would fit in at Chelsea is a whole other question. 

With the Blues also having to deal with an impending transfer ban, things could turn quite sour at Stamford Bridge soon unless some drastic decisions are made.

Hazard’s departure would be a massive blow – one that most Chelsea fans wouldn’t be too confident this group of players can recover from.

While there is loads of experience in the side, only the Belgian has been able to provide consistent displays.

His goals and assists have been crucial and it wouldn’t be too harsh to say that they’ve been dependent on him for large periods in the season. The expectations that are placed on him every week are monstrous as well. 

Although the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain and the resurgence of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi have eased the load on the Belgian’s shoulders, without his magical touch, Chelsea wouldn’t be in the rather positive position they’re currently in. 

With Philippe Coutinho being suggested as a possible replacement, Chelsea fans would be getting a seasoned Premier League professional who’s done wonders in this league before.

Formerly of Liverpool, the Brazilian’s exploits in England are the stuff of legend and a move to London would suit the player’s best interest. Although he recently made his dream move to Barcelona, the 26-year-old hasn’t had the impact he would’ve hoped for.

While he has managed to score some spectacular goals in the league, consistency has become an issue and this has seen him drop out of the XI on multiple occasions over the course of the campaign. 

He made 34 appearances in the league this season and despite coming off the bench quite a lot, he managed to notch up a decent 5 goals and 2 assists.

While these figures are only average, his opportunities since making the switch have been limited too. Considering that he’s a proven Premier League player, a switch to Chelsea would only help him progress in his career.

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While this is the case, his positional requirement is something that could come to haunt Chelsea. While he can be utilised on the flanks, his best performances have always come when operating almost as a second striker.

This could be an issue as it would be unlike the Italian to change his setup to accommodate a player. Despite his experience and previous exploits in the league, this is a move that the Blues would do well to avoid.