Tz, via Marca, claim that Everton are ready to make a €40million bid for Philippe Coutinho but Jurgen Klopp needs to step in and sign the Brazilian.
The Reds earned an incredible £142million from the sale of Coutinho to Barcelona in 2018 and while they’ve tried to re-sign him twice, they’ve been unsuccessful on each occasion.
Now, however, it seems as though his time with the La Liga outfit is up and Liverpool need to go back in for him.
Coutinho was outstanding at Liverpool in his final half-season with the club. In 20 matches, the former Inter Milan star scored 12 goals and assisted 8. By Christmas, he had a total of 20 goal contributions and looked as though he deserved a big-money move to play with Lionel Messi.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 16: Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates his firts goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between FC Barcelona and Manchester United at Camp Nou on April 16, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
This season, Liverpool have struggled tremendously going forward. They’ve scored just 55 goals in the Premier League which is a distinctly average rate of 1.6 goals per game and this is in spite of Mohamed Salah reaching 20 goals in a season once again.
Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino have been outscored by the likes of Chris Wood and while Diogo Jota started the season like a house on fire, injury has halted his progress in a very significant way.
Liverpool’s system is heavily reliant on its forwards scoring the vast majority of the goals and for the centre-backs to chip in with important goals from corners and free kicks.
This season, with the forwards underperforming and all the club’s best and tallest centre-backs out injured, Klopp’s game plan has fallen to pieces and he’s been unable to find a solution.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 07: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on February 07, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
With no goals from midfield to speak of, Liverpool have been forced to keep trying the same thing over and over with little succes.
Adding someone with Coutinho’s creativity would not only mean that Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold wouldn’t be so heavily relied upon to create chances for the front three, but his goalscoring ability would also mean the likes of Mane, Salah and Firmino wouldn’t be the only goal threats in the side.
It would also mean that Klopp would have another option on the left to rest Mane when he’s showing signs of fatigue as he is at the moment. If Tz, via Marca, is to be believed, Liverpool cannot allow Everton to sign Coutinho when he could be the answer to all their problems.
