Liverpool are still owed £26million (€29m) by Barcelona but could wipe that debt away and welcome Philippe Coutinho back to Anfield instead of signing a new forward, writes Michael Mongie.
There has been a lot of talk surrounding what Liverpool will do in the summer, with most fans agreeing that a centre-back is the priority while a fair number of supporters would like to see a new forward join the club.
The issue this season hasn’t been a lack of goals so much as a lack of goalscoring chances being created and this would no doubt be solved by signing Coutinho, who, for all his issues in Spain, is a world-class creator.
LISBON, PORTUGAL – AUGUST 23: (L-R) Philippe Coutinho, Thiago and Robert Lewandowski of FC Bayern Muenchen pose with the trophy in the dressing room following their team’s victory in the UEFA Champions League Final match against Paris Saint-Germain at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on August 23, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal. PHOTO BY M. DONATO/FC BAYERN VIA GETTY IMAGES
In his final season for Liverpool, Coutinho scored 12 goals and created 8 goals and it’s my view that if he had remained in England, he would now be considered the best midfielder in the world.
The injured Barcelona star was just 25 when he departed for sunny Spain and would have spent three years developing under Jurgen Klopp. The 20 goal contributions he got for Liverpool in the 17/18 season all came in the first half of the season and had he stayed, he no doubt would have hit 30 for the season.
Signing Coutinho would give Klopp several options in terms of how he could tweak his tactics mid-game, with the former Liverpool no.10 adept on the left-wing, as an attacking midfielder, as a no.8 and I’m sure he would be world-class as a false nine as well.
He formed a strong relationship with Thiago Alcantara during their time at Bayern Munich and it would be exciting to see how they would translate that in Liverpool Red.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 01: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool and Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool embrace after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St. James Park on October 1, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
It makes financial sense for both clubs, it offers Coutinho a chance at redemption and would give Klopp another world-class option.
