A potential return to Anfield for former Red Philippe Coutinho has been the topic of discussion recently.
This comes after the Brazilian was the centre of attention during a recent episode of The Anfield Wrap podcast, during which, journalist Phil Blundell claimed that a return to Merseyside for Coutinho ‘makes perfect sense’.
Coutinho has been linked with a sensational return to Anfield in recent times, with his move to Barcelona clearly having not worked out, with the attacking midfielder out on loan at Bayern Munich.
On the podcast, Blundell rhetorically asked what the downside would be for Liverpool if they loaned Coutinho back to Anfield for 12 months without having to buy him at the end of that period.
He then said: “All we’re interested in is Liverpool winning trophies, and are we more likely to win trophies next season with Coutinho than with no one? Because that’s what it might come down to, it might be literally Coutinho or no one.”
On the flip-side, Blundell then suggested that a reason against Coutinho returning to Anfield could be down to ‘pride’ in regards to the attacker being reportedly so determined to leave the club, which could leave the Brazilian at odds with the fanbase should he return – though felt this would only be ‘self-defeating’.
The 28-year-old signed to Liverpool 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 mega-money move to Barcelona, Coutinho made a total of 201 appearances for the Reds, in which he managed to score 54 goals and provide 45 assists (per Transfermarkt).
In his first full season at the La Liga club, 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).
Would you take Coutinho on loan this summer?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts…
Given the fact that Barcelona were willing to let Coutinho leave on a season-long loan deal to Bayern, this suggests that he isn’t an important player for them, or else they would have kept him in the squad.
Whether Liverpool would be willing to have Coutinho return to Anfield on a loan deal is still up in the air.
However, if Barcelona were willing to loan him out to Bayern, they may be willing to loan him back to the Merseyside club.