Liverpool have been told to sign Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian scored for Bayern Munich against Lyon, but it was ruled out of offside and he was forced to try again. He was, however, electric and provided some exciting moments towards the end of the game.
Philippe Coutinho couldn’t replicate the exceptional impact he had for Munich against Barcelona, where he scored twice and assisted once against his parent club, but the former Liverpool man still did well.
That performance has led to some influential Reds calling for sporting director Michael Edwards and manager Jurgen Klopp to bring him back into the fold.
Barcelona had looked to be set on forcing the €160 million man out after just two seasons at the Camp Nou, but their recent Champions League embarrassment and firing of Quique Setién could hand the Brazilian a new lease of life.
Goal wrote that club president Josep Maria Bartomeu had said he won’t force Coutinho out the exit door, if the new head coach wants him to stay. That’s likely to be former Everton and Southampton gaffer Ronald Koeman, so anything could happen.
However, they could still face some pain if Bayern Munich win the Champions League. The New Zealand Herald reported that Liverpool inserted a clause into Coutinho’s move to Barca that stated the Spanish club would have to pay out if the player won the competition.
Lovely goal by Coutinho - but offside. Such a freakin' good player - don't judge him by that freak club Barca. Would still have him back in a heartbeat. Basically exactly what we need. High level front-three player and someone who can change our formation when JK wants, too.
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) August 19, 2020
It didn’t stipulate he had to win it with Barcelona.
That means they could be on the hook to the tune of €5 million for Coutinho lifting the Champions League with Bayern. Could it get any more depressing than that?
A few players have been granted a new lease of life by this competition, among them Thiago – who seems to have played his way into a Liverpool move.
If Edwards and Klopp ended up bringing Coutinho back, it would represent a remarkable turn of events for the club and a humiliating climbdown by Barcelona and the player.
Hopefully it’ll show anyone else with itchy feet that the future isn’t always better at those Spanish megaclubs.