Some things in life are certain: death, taxes and football transfer rumours. Even without any action to watch on our screens, the circulation of gossip surrounding the games superstars has ceased to slow down, media outlets toying with the fan’s anticipation about the eventual return of the global sport. 

Philip Coutinho's name has been thrown into the mixing bowl of speculation, raising the attentions of some of Europe's biggest bakers in the transfer market. The Barcelona midfielder, currently on loan at Bayern Munich, has recently been on the books of Chelsea, coupled by a shock return to former employees, Liverpool. 

Any Blues fan would purr at the prospect of wielding such a talent in their ranks, especially after suffering through a transfer ban covering half the season, however one associate to Stamford Bridge does not believe the move would not be worthwhile for either party. 

Frank assessment 

Frank Lebouef won five trophies in as many years with Chelsea in the 1990s, now a man of media himself, having traded football for acting following his retirement. However, he firmly feels that the Hollywood signing of Coutinho could be a B movie at best. 

"Well, to be really honest, and frank, no," the former Chelsea defender told the Metro, after answering whether the Brazilian should return to the Premier League as a Blue. 

"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."

Coutinho left Liverpool in 2018 for Barcelona, striking a deal worth £142 million, but the relationship has been far from perfect, resulting in his loan move to Munich last summer. 

Chelsea would have to fork out a hefty sum they were to pry him from the La Liga leaders, but Lebouef believes any amount of money would be a wasted investment.

"You talk about Chelsea, ready to [pay] £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."

Not a BAFTA nominee 

If football transformed their end of the season ceremonies into BAFTA style awards, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would tussle over Best Actor, Neymar for Best Visual Effects and Kylian Mbappe a shoe in for the Rising Star accolade. 

Unfortunately, Lebouef, who had a cameo roll in the Oscar nominated, 'The Theory of Everything', urged current Chelsea boss Frank Lampard to refrain from casting a vote on Coutinho.

"But if you check on the quality of Coutinho, of course he is a talented player, of course he is a good player, but does he belong to the top, top players? Allow me to have some doubts about that."

Lebouef featured alongside greats such as Gianfranco Zola, Dennis Wise and Marcel Desailly during his time in London, winning the World Cup and European Championships with France, featuring the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Robert Pires, so his eye for talent cannot be understated. 

"When I see Neymar, when I see Ronaldo, when I see Messi, when I see Mbappe, I see top, top players."

No room for the mini midfielder 

Before the interruption of Premier League action, Chelsea were making fine progress under Lampard, asserting themselves into fourth place in the league by playing energetic, forward thinking football. 

And even despite the ban, the club managed to recall the likes of Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount from their loan spells- both players performing excellently- whilst capturing the signings of Christian Pulisic and soon to be Hakim Ziyech.

Overall, Lampard has landed a healthy blend of youth and experience, and with the eventual arrival of Ziyech to address their attacking midfield problem, Blues supporters should be content with the strength of their squad. 

Lebouef echoed these thoughts, deeming there no space for the small 27-year-old midfielder, who started 26 games for Barca, assisting just five goals.

Coutinho’s form for Bayern has improved, netting nine goals and assisting eight more, yet this was still not enough evidence for the Frenchman to be persuaded.

"How do you put Coutinho in a team and how do you rate him now?"

"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."