Chelsea legend Leboeuf says Coutinho not worth £80m transfer fee and urges Lampard not to waste cash on Barcelona flop
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CHELSEA legend Frank Leboeuf has urged Blues boss Frank Lampard to save his cash rather than fork out for Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho.
The former Stamford Bridge defender turned actor has waded into the Coutinho debate as rumours that the ex-Liverpool star is set for a Premier League return gain momentum.
Chelsea are believed to be in talks with Barcelona over a potential loan move but clearly not everyone is best pleased at the prospect of the Brazilian's arrival.
Leboeuf, who played more than 200 games for the Blues and won four trophies in west London, told ESPN: "Well, to be really honest, and frank, no [Chelsea should not sign him].
"I think Coutinho is a good player and I'm not even trying to be harsh on him, I think I want to find Barcelona guilty for the situation because they put a price on Coutinho who I think doesn't belong to that league.
"When I see Neymar, when I see [Cristiano] Ronaldo, when I see [Lionel] Messi, when I see [Kylian] Mbappe, I see top, top players.
"Coutinho has a price of a top, top player and I don't want to make a statement but I'm not sure he has the quality of a top, top player.
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"And now, how do you reverse the system? How do you put Coutinho in a team and how do you rate him now?
"You talk about Chelsea, ready to [pay] £80million, £80m. I think it's too much for a player where you're not sure he's going to find the level he was, he used to be, at Liverpool and is not anymore.
"That's why I think Coutinho shouldn't go to Chelsea because there is no room for him and I think it is too much to spend for a player where we don't know the standard."
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Coutinho lit up the Premier League during his time at Liverpool - so much so that Barcelona forked out £145m to secure his services in January 2018.
But the Brazilian ace slid down the pecking order at the Nou Camp and was shipped out on loan to Bayern Munich for this season.
However, it appears he has not done enough during his time in the Bundesliga to convince Bayern chiefs he is worth stumping up the cash for a permanent deal and looks likely to return to England.