The Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho pairing looks set to continue as the Englishman looks to make the Brazilian his first signing at Saudi Pro League side, Al-Ettifaq.
Gerrard stayed away from management for the remainder of the 2022/23 season after being sacked by Aston Villa in 2022. In recent months, he was linked to the Leicester City and Leeds United jobs. Both clubs went in different managerial directions, however, and the former Glasgow Rangers boss chose to move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq.
It is a move that many see as developmental as he is less than five years in football management. Gerrard is now tasked with rebuilding the side that finished seventh on the Saudi Pro League log last season.
Coutinho was one of Gerrard’s big flops at Aston Villa and after the former England Three Lions midfielder was axed from his role at Villa Park, Coutinho saw his participation in the side dwindle. The seven-time FA Cup champions are now looking to part ways with the 31-year-old, and Gerrard is reportedly willing to take him off their hands.
Coutinho is his primary target according to Daily Mail, who also claims that former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata and former Manchester United man Jesse Lingard are on Gerrard’s list.
Coutinho has a contract at Aston Vila until 2026 and the club is hoping the Saudi club can open their deep pockets to help get his wages off their books ahead of an interesting 2023/24 season.
Morata looks comfortable at Atlético, where he recently had a good goalscoring run in the league, netting 13 goals in 36 games for Los Colchoneros. His contract expires next year and there have been no talks in the media about an extension, which could open the doors for negotiation between both clubs, as well as between the club and the player.
Lingard, on the other hand, is a free agent after his contract at Nottingham Forest expired. He is currently training with MLS side Inter Miami where Lionel Messi and possibly Sergio Busquets will be playing next season. But the 30-year-old has not ruled out a move to Saudi Arabia per his most recent media appearance.
“Saudi Arabia are doing big things, and in the next couple of years or so, it will be one of the hotspots to go to,” he said to Sky Sports. “I’m not really surprised that the big names are moving out there. Like I say, they’re doing big things and it’s something I would consider as well – I’ve not ruled that out either.”
Gerrard is the first big name in management to join a Saudi club in the latest wave of big-name acquisitions sweeping the middle east. It remains to be seen if Coutinho, Lingard and Morata will add to the list of big-name players like Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and N’Golo Kante who have all moved there in recent times.
