Liverpool journalist James Pearce has been discussing the possibility of former Reds attacker Philippe Coutinho making a return to Anfield.
This comes after Pearce recently made an appearance on The Athletic’s Liverpool-themed Red Agenda podcast.
When asked what the chances are on Coutinho moving back to the Merseyside club this summer after being recently linked with the move, Pearce shared his thoughts on the matter.
“I honestly don’t see it happening. I just think it just doesn’t make sense. I think the only glimmer is if a deal dropped to such a low level financially, with Barcelona being willing to essentially subsidise his wages,” he said.
“I think some people have short memories about how much of a stink he did kick up in terms of the transfer request on the eve of a new season.
“That was very unsettling and detrimental to the club and he claimed that he didn’t feel like he was valued enough by [Jurgen] Klopp.
“Then, even when Liverpool did finally sell him, I remember hearing Klopp talk about how there was just no chance, he said, of keeping him.
“He just wouldn’t have been any value to us for the rest of the season. Which is pretty damning in terms of what his attitude was like around the place and just how desperate he was to get away.
“It just wouldn’t make sense to me, I just think Liverpool have moved on without Coutinho, they’ve evolved as a team, they’re certainly a lot less predictable without Coutinho.
“I would be absolutely amazed if it happened.”
What would you do with Coutinho?
Buy him this summer
Get him on loan for next season
Leave him
The Brazilian first signed to the Merseyside club back in the 2013 January transfer window from Italian side Inter for a fee of £11.7 million (per Transfermarkt).
Before leaving the club in 2018 for a move to Barcelona, Coutinho made 201 appearances for the Reds, in which he managed to score 54 goals and provide 45 assists (per Transfermarkt).
In his first season at Barcelona, Coutinho made a total of 54 appearances across all competitions, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists along the way (per Transfermarkt).
This season, however, has seen Coutinho on a loan deal away from Barcelona at German club Bayern Munich, during which he has managed to score nine goals and provide eight assists in 32 appearances (per Transfermarkt).
TIF Thoughts…
It seems as though Pearce doesn’t think a move back to Anfield for Coutinho would benefit the club, either financially or in terms of improving the team.