Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp urged to re-sign Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona 'now'
LIVERPOOL should buy Philippe Coutinho back from Barcelona imminently, according to Reds legend Phil Thompson.
Posted Tuesday, May 14, 2019 by Dailystar.co.uk
The Reds made an incredible £133.5m profit when they sold the playmaker to the La Liga champions in January 2018.
But Coutinho's dream move to the Nou Camp hasn't worked out as perfectly as he'd have hoped.
Poor form saw him dropped by boss Ernesto Valverde for Ousmane Dembele early in his first full season.
And he has failed to convince fans that he can be the replacement for Andres Iniesta they were hoping for.
Liverpool impressively blunted Coutinho's threat during the Reds' stunning 4-0 Champions League win over Barca at Anfield last week.
But Thompson believes Jurgen Klopp could revive the Brazil international and get him firing on all cylinders again.
"I would take him back in a heartbeat, but it would have to be now," Thompson told Sky Sports News.
"You don't want to leave it another 12 months, I think he still has the ability."
Would Jurgen Klopp consider buying Philippe Coutinho back if the price was right? (Pic: GETTY)
Jurgen Klopp and Philippe Coutinho still have a solid relationship (Pic: GETTY)
"He's suffered at Barcelona," the Reds hero continued. "We've seen him playing out wide on the left, but he's not Neymar.
"He likes to be in the middle where he can pull strings and is getting on the ball to hurt teams.
"He doesn't do that and he's not a left-winger and that's where he's playing at Barcelona; they don't love him like Liverpool loved him."
Coutinho scored 54 times in 201 games at Liverpool, but the club have not suffered in his absence.
Klopp has re-moulded his side, engineering a menacing attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
But Thompson remains of the opinion that Coutinho would bring an extra dimension that would help Liverpool break down defensive teams.
"He was that little bit clever, that creativity behind those front three that you could go to in games where you knew you were going to have the majority of the possession," he added.
"He could open that door, he could score the goals that would get you the win.
"I would have him back, I don't know about the football club, but he is the one with that ability.
"Knowing our club, we've been very shrewd, maybe there's a buy-back clause in there for maybe less than half what we sold him."
Photos
More»
[PICTURE SPECIAL] Chelsea 6-0 Everton
Tuesday April 16 2024
Sexiest Kayla Simmons put on busty display as she strips to bikini
Tuesday April 16 2024
Your Say