Philippe Coutinho: Liverpool's Newest Addition Will Not Solve Immediate Needs
As Liverpool works to complete its deal for Philippe Coutinho, it is clear that the club is only looking toward the future with this transaction.
David Anderson of the Daily Mirror reported that the club has finished negotiations and the midfielder should be part of the club shortly:
"Coutinho is having his medical today on Merseyside afterย Liverpool agreed his ยฃ8.5million feeย with Inter Milan.
The Brazilian midfielder will travel to London with club officials after undergoing his medical to obtain a work permit.
The Reds hope Coutinho's application will be successful without having to appeal, even though he has made just the solitary appearance for Brazil.
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An ยฃ8.5million fee is not too extravagant for a player of his potential. Coutinho is only 20 years old and already shows flashes of brilliance with his speed and skill.
However, this is not the move that Liverpool needs to make at this point.
The Reds are currently in seventh place in the English Premier League, seven points away from even earning a spot in the Champions League for next season. This is an embarrassment for a club that featured some of the top clubs in the world not too long ago.
Instead of gathering talented players in the transfer window that could turn around its fortunes, Liverpool has spent the past few years signing cheap, up-and-coming prospects that could one day shine.
While there is a lot of promise for the future, there is still not enough talent to help in the present.
Coutinho has struggled to get onto the pitch this season for Inter Milan. He only has 10 appearances in league play, only three of which were starts.
In that time, the attacking midfielder has only managed to score one goal with zero assists.ย
Similar to Liverpool, Inter Milan is full of young players attempting to make their mark on the sport. The fact that Coutinho could not get playing time should be concerning.
Liverpool needs someone who can provide skill on the field as well as helping the young players with veteran leadership. This was available in Wesley Sneijder, but the club chose to help the future instead.
Two or three years from now, this could end up being a very smart move for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool. However, fans should temper expectations for the new addition.
They should also stay comfortable in the middle of the league table, because the squad does not seem to be moving any time soon.
