Bayern to wait with Coutinho decision

Following the return of James Rodriguez to Real Madrid from his two-year loan at the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich signed Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona, also on a temporary basis but only for this season, at the end of which they will have the option to make the transfer permanent for €120 million.

Recent reports in the Spanish press claimed that the Bundesliga champions were unwilling to pay that kind of money for the Brazilian, but CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge revealed to German magazine Kicker that the decision hasn’t been made yet. Bayern are extremely pleased with what Coutinho has brought to the team and Rummenigge is fond of his qualities, as well as his non-star attitude, but having paid €8.5 million for the loan, the Bavarians will make the decision on whether to make him a full-time Bayern player when the time comes, and not before.

A Barcelona return for Coutinho still seems highly unlikely, some reports linking him to Manchester United and even a return to Liverpool also seem wide of the mark at the moment, though the season is a long way from over yet.