Santos weigh Coutinho move amid concern over inactivity | OneFootball

Santos are exploring a deal to bring Coutinho to Vila Belmiro, but the club are proceeding cautiously due to his extended inactivity.

Talks were initiated via NR Sports, Neymar's family company, and a pay-by-performance contract has not been ruled out, according to Globo.com.

The 34-year-old midfielder has not played since 14 February, when he featured for Vasco against Volta Redonda in the Campeonato Carioca.

He would also fit Santos' policy of avoiding transfer fees, as with Arthur, Rodinei and Lima, who have already been announced.

Coutinho and Neymar have been close since their youth days and represented Brazil at the 2018 World Cup together. That relationship has helped move talks forward.

Neymar and his father have previously taken part in club negotiations, including helping to secure Arthur. NR Sports paid R$ 12 million to Monaco to lift a transfer ban that had blocked new registrations.

Santos are also in talks to sign Everton Cebolinha, who will terminate his Flamengo contract to join on a deal running until the end of the year.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”