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Report: Liverpool have been offered chance to re-sign Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona, still owed money

Will Butcher

Mon 31 May 2021 8:15, UK

that Barcelona are desperately trying to raise funds and playmaker Philippe Coutinho is on the firing list. Among other players, Barcelona will sell Coutinho this summer and the Spaniards have offered him to Liverpool – with money still owed to the Reds.

Coutinho, 28, joined Barcelona in January 2018 for a fee believed to be the best part of £150million. Following a good start, he has fallen by the wayside. Under Ronald Koeman during 2020-21, he only managed to clock up 14 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona.

That is, after going on loan to Bayern Munich the season before. Coutinho, for the good of his career, desperately needs a move and Barcelona need him gone. AS claim that there are still payments in which Barcelona owe to Liverpool – but that they have offered Coutinho to rejoin Liverpool.

Such a move would see Barcelona wipe out these payments, allowing Liverpool to sign him on the cheap. Liverpool fans would surely love to have a player that played over 200 times for the Reds, scoring 41 Premier League goals in that time. The Reds have been offered that chance. Arsenal, who have been linked, are not interested – according to Fabrizio Romano.

Is Liverpool bringing Coutinho back a sign of progression?

Well, Liverpool do need an attacking midfielder. Gini Wijnaldum was hardly the most-attacking option from midfield, but he was the best of Liverpool’s starting trio – alongside Jordan Henderson and Fabinho. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones and Naby Keita are options.

Wijnaldum is about to leave. Oxlade-Chamberlain did score against Burnley, but is becominginjury prone. Keita has not been the player Liverpool hoped he would and Jones is in and out of the side. Liverpool need a 10 – Coutinho is a massive improvement on the current options.