United offered Coutinho

The Independent on Wednesday claimed that Manchester United were contacted by intermediaries trying to broker a deal for Barcelona’s 26-year-old Philippe Coutinho, who is struggling in Spain. 

*** Coutinho has failed to show why Barcelona were willing to pay so much money for him, and it highlights the panic to replace Neymar following his sale to Paris Saint-Germain. The only reason to buy the player would be if United needed a playmaker or a midfielder for a creative role further back - that is not what the club needs, though of course Ed Woodward might decide otherwise.