Forget Tielemans - Third approach for €20m playmaker would prove successful

Mundo Deportivo reports this week that Leicester City want to reunite Brendan Rodgers with Philippe Coutinho for around €20million.

The Brazilian has been linked with a return to Liverpool quite often since he left the club and the Reds even tried to re-sign him twice and now that he's available on the cheap, it's the perfect time to make a third approach.

In his final half-season with Liverpool, he was on track to score 25 goals and assist 16 before he sealed an incredible £142million move to Barcelona where things have gone awry.

What do papers say the future holds for him?

On the 31st of May, Spanish outlet AS claimed that Barcelona offered Coutinho to write off the debt still owed to the Reds, with the Anfield outfit reportedly still owed £40m of the original fee.

This week, Mundo Deportivo claims that Brendan Rodgers, who signed Coutinho from Inter Milan in 2013, wants to take the Brazilian to Leicester City this summer with Barcelona asking for just €20million.

The Catalonians main priority right now is to shift his wages off the books and this could present the opportunity for Leicester (or Liverpool if they're still interested) to sign him on loan with the right to buy.

Why Liverpool should sign 29-year-old Coutinho

At €20million, Liverpool will struggle to find a better playmaker and while links right now suggest that Florian Neuhaus will be the man to arrive at Anfield this summer, Coutinho returning to Merseyside could be special.

He made a massive mistake leaving the club and forced a move through in a way that he perhaps shouldn't have but Liverpool fans are a forgiving bunch and would welcome him back with open arms.

Especially if he is still capable of the spectacular. He was my favourite player when he was at the club and I was hopeful that Naby Keita could bring similar excitement to L4 but the Guinean has battled with injuries.

There is no greater sight in football than the way Coutinho would cut inside before curling a beauty into the top corner. Defenders and goalkeepers knew it was coming but there was no way of stopping it.

Where would Coutinho fit in?

The Brazilian already has a great personal and professional working relationship with our Thiago and it would be great to see their technique paired in midfield although Coutinho would be stationed closer to goal.

He is best in an advanced no.8 role where is deep enough that he can pick the ball up and dictate the tempo of the game while also being close enough to the front three that he can interlink with them while finding his range for long shots at goal.

While Liverpool have found distinct success by oversupplying the front three with crosses from Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, some games against bottom-half sides have left the Reds wondering if a moment of genius from range could have settled a tight draw.

I'm all for Liverpool making a move for Coutinho especially as it would make perfect sense financially.