As Liverpool have effectively ruled out any blockbuster summer signings due to recent events impacting finances, one creative midfielder that could be made available on a loan-to-buy arrangement is ex-Reds star Philippe Coutinho.
Coutinho, who made 201 appearances for the club before departing for Barcelona in a mega £142 million deal, has since gone on to find himself on the fringes of the Catalans first team after a disappointing first full campaign.
Would you take Coutinho back at Anfield?
Yes, in a heartbeat
No, thank you
Spending the 2019/2020 season on loan at Bayern Munich, despite impressing in flashes, it’s been revealed that the Bundesliga giants will not be exercising a potential coup at the end of his temporary spell – leaving the door open for other teams to make offers.
Indeed, Barca reportedly wish to offload the Brazilian, with recent claims from Football Insider suggesting he could be made available on a loan-to-buy basis for next season.
Given the Reds’ stance surrounding expenditure, a loan deal for Coutinho would debatably provide an injection of quality whilst also avoiding heavy investment.
The fees to bring him back to Merseyside on a temporary season-long basis would apparently amount to an initial £8 million payment, along with the 62-cap international’s £200,000-per-week wages.
Even though Coutinho’s wage demands would make him the joint-highest paid Liverpool player in the squad alongside star forward Mohamed Salah according to spotrac, it’s arguably a meagre investment when compared to the price tag of a permanent deal.
Described as a ‘genius’ by Liverpool legend Phil Thompson, as well as earning praise from Jurgen Klopp for being ‘world class‘ – a potential loan-to-buy arrangement could leave very little downside, especially when taking into account our need for an attacking midfield player.