Philippe Coutinho 'offered Lionel Messi No10 Barcelona shirt after legend quits for PSG amid Arsenal transfer rumours'

PHILIPPE COUTINHO has reportedly been offered Lionel Messi's No 10 shirt at Barcelona after his move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Coutinho's own future at Barca is still up in the air with Arsenal linked with the Brazilian.

According to Mundo Deportivo, former Liverpool star Coutinho has been offered Messi's prized shirt number at Barca.

The Spanish giants are still reeling after being unable to hold on to Messi due to their crippling debt.

Messi made an emotional exit as he signed a huge deal with PSG after the end of his Barca career.

And Coutinho could now take on his shirt as Barca bid to rebuild after losing the legendary superstar.

But Coutinho's own future at the Nou Camp is still in doubt with the attacker linked with a move to Arsenal.

Reports claimed Barcelona wanted to use him as part of a swap deal for Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Barca are desperate to offload some of their expensive squad players and Coutinho has failed to impress since his £142million move to the club in 2018.

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Coutinho's huge salary at Barca is a stumbling block but the club are reportedly prepared to pay half of his wages to help ship him out on loan.

The 29-year-old has failed to live to his enormous transfer fee since moving to Spain.

But Messi's departure could yet open the door for the Brazil attacker to finally deliver with the potential for more freedom in the team if he stays at Barca.

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