Barca offer out Coutinho to trio

PHILIPPE COUTINHO has been offered on a cut-price deal to three Premier League clubs as Barcelona try to cut their wage bill.

The cash-strapped Catalans have asked his agent, Kia Joorabchian, to speak to West Ham, Wolves and Leicester in a bid to offload the former Liverpool star (right).

Any deal would involve a loan for one season with an obligation to pay at least 60 per cent of his £7.7million-ayear wages.

It comes after Barcelona announced yesterday that they had agreed to slash the wages of centre-back Gerard Pique and are re-negotiating the deals of club captain Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Agent Joorabchian, who has excellent contacts in the Premier League, is the man tasked with brokering a deal after it became clear that Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman didn’t see Coutinho in his future plans.

The Brazilian has struggled to live up to his billing after his move from Anfield.

He was sent on loan to Bayern Munich in 2019-20 – and last season made just 14 appearances when he returned to Barcelona.

The good news for West Ham, Leicester and Wolves, however, is that Coutinho, 29, has just two years remaining on his contract – which means he could be bought on the cheap next year.

In addition, despite being offered to Lazio, a transfer to Rome is seen as ‘improbable’.

The Brazil star, who has 63 caps and 18 international goals, trained with Barca on Friday and remains in Spain for now – but it would be a surprise if he stayed there beyond September.