---
title: "Tottenham Hotspur: Noel Whelan believes that Philippe Coutinho would be ideal for Spurs"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-hotspur-noel-whelan-believes-that-philippe-coutinho-would-be-ideal-for-spurs/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jack Maleham"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2020-02-11T21:10:46Z"
modified: "2020-02-11T21:10:46Z"
---

# Tottenham Hotspur: Noel Whelan believes that Philippe Coutinho would be ideal for Spurs

**Former striker Noel Whelan has admitted that he believes Philippe Coutinho would be a brilliant signing for Tottenham Hotspur.**

According to a report from the [Daily Express](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1239730/Barcelona-Transfer-News-Philippe-Coutinho-Man-Utd-Liverpool-Chelsea-Tottenham-Man-City), Barcelona are willing to sell the playmaker in the summer for just £77m, which is way less than the £142m they paid Liverpool for him in January 2018. It is thought that there has already been interest from Spurs, as well as a few other Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Whelan believes that the Brazilian international would be ideal for Tottenham, insisting that they need a player of his ilk and that he would fit nicely into their system and complement them well.

Speaking about Coutinho potentially joining Spurs in the summer, Whelan told [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/extraordinary-exclusive-ex-striker-reacts-to-spurs-reported-pursuit-of-77m-valued-ace/): “I think he’d be perfect for Tottenham’s style of play. Perfect for Harry Kane as well.

“I think they need somebody like that – I know they’ve got Giovani Lo Celso in there but I think that Coutinho-type player, somebody who can see that pass, someone with that quality from set-pieces. We saw what he did at Liverpool. He was extraordinary when he was there, and I think he would really fit Tottenham very well.

“If they can get that one over the line – I know he’s out of favour at Bayern Munich – with the players that would be around him at Tottenham, he could really thrive.”

Whelan certainly has a point here and, looking at it, Coutinho could actually be the man who replaces the creativity that Spurs lost when Christian Eriksen left to join Inter Milan.

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Whilst some point to Giovani Lo Celso as the Dane’s replacement, he has in fact been playing in a deep midfield role as opposed to an advanced position, which perhaps explains why he has no assists and just two goals in 21 appearances in all competitions this term ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/giovani-lo-celso/leistungsdaten/spieler/348795)).

By contrast, Coutinho is more of an attacking playmaker who has a proven track record in that regard. This season alone, he has scored seven goals and provided eight assists in 27 appearances whilst on loan at Bayern Munich ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/leistungsdaten/spieler/80444)) and during his time with Liverpool he scored 54 times whilst racking up 45 assists in all competitions ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/80444)).

The 27-year-old would certainly add more of a threat going forward for Tottenham and, as Whelan says, he could also complement Harry Kane quite well by creating plenty of chances for the England skipper – this season in the Bundesliga, he is averaging 1.4 key passes per game and has created six big chances ([SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/player/philippe-coutinho/119159)).

***Spurs fans, would you like to see Philippe Coutinho join the club in the summer? Let us know in the comments below…***