Manchester United target rules out Premier League return

Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho has ruled out any chance of leaving Barcelona to return to the Premier League this summer.

Coutinho completed a dream move to Barcelona in a deal worth £142m in January 2018 but the Brazil international has dropped down the pecking order this season.

Barcelona reportedly plan to raise £300m in player sales this summer in order to fund their spending spree and Coutinho is a name reportedly being considered for sale by the board.

Ernesto Valverde’s side would be able to command a huge fee to Coutinho and were hoping to attract interest from former club Liverpool or their Premier League rivals Manchester United.

Coutinho started Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday night and then moved to quash any suggestions of a Premier League return at the end of the season.

“My head is exclusively in Barcelona. Returning to England now does not fit into my plans,” he told The Daily Mirror.

“This is my second season here. I have won titles but I am always an ambitious and demanding player. So, I want more and more. But I’m happy. I wanted to play in Spain and I’m at the best club in Spain.”

Coutinho has only started 19 league matches this season and made a further 10 appearances from the bench.

The 26-year-old has played a direct hand in just seven league goals in that time, averaging a goal involvement every 253.9 minutes of action.