Jamie
Redknapp has warned Mason Mount's development could be impeded were Chelsea
to sign Philippe Coutinho.
Barcelona have reportedly offered Chelsea the chance to sign the Brazil
international when the transfer window re-opens for a fee in excess of £70m.
But Redknapp has expressed his doubts over the potential deal, claiming it
would see the Blues move in a different direction to the one Frank Lampard
has been steering in since he took charge at Stamford Bridge.
"I don't see this as a goer, it's an awful lot of money," Redknapp told The
Football Show. "Coutinho is a super-talented player but he doesn't get
enough goals.
"Chelsea have Mason Mount there and a lot of trust has been given to the
young players who are coming through at Stamford Bridge. The way Chelsea
have been going for the last year or so, I just don't see them going to
spend £79m on a player.
"Coutinho is talented, but why would you want to risk preventing someone
like Mount, who is going to be a top-class player, having the opportunities
himself?"
Nev's worries over transfers and pay
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville joined Redknapp on
The Football
Show and said a move for Coutinho could prove to be "illogical" given
Chelsea are in discussions with players over a pay deferral or reduction
during the coronavirus pandemic.
He added: "It's like a parallel universe. A story has been breaking every
three days, that [Chelsea captain] Cesar Azpilicueta has been in talks with
the Chelsea board about a reported 10-15 per cent pay cut.
"That might be fabrication, but I doubt it because we've heard it far too
often. So, to hear in the next breath, as a Chelsea player looking at a
10-15 per cent wage deferral or reduction, that they are looking to buy
Coutinho for £70-odd million, you'd be like 'well, which one is it?'
"If I was a player in a dressing room now, I would look at a referral that
could turn into a pay cut at a certain point in time. But, if the club
increase their budget or sign a player for £75m I'd be saying, 'you have to
pay our money first'.
"You cannot go and sign a player for £75m and tell your players you cannot
pay them, it's just illogical."
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