South American football expert Tim Vickery told Sky Sports back in June that Philippe Coutinho’s move to Barcelona had not worked out and that he wasn’t sure it would at this point.
Since moving to the Camp Nou nearly 18 months ago in a blockbuster deal that BBC Sport report cost the La Liga side an eye-watering £142 million, things haven’t exactly gone to plan for the Brazilian international, with Coutinho failing to deliver for the Catalan club and reports from Cadena SER claiming that the 26-year-old has already asked to leave this summer.
Indeed, with the success of Liverpool since Coutinho’s departure as the Reds claimed their sixth Champions League title, at the expense of beating Barcelona in the semi-finals in an incredible comeback, reports of a reunion have been commonplace in the media, with Sport reporting via the Daily Mail on July 1st that the Merseyside club are open to re-signing their former playmaker, who is valued on Transfermarkt at £81 million.
While it does seem rather dubious considering the fact that both he and Luis Suarez were booed by sections of the Anfield support upon their return in the Champions League, perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad idea, in theory.
With This Is Anfield writing in March that Liverpool aren’t the most creative of sides considering their success in both the Premier League and in Europe, a move back in for Coutinho might not be the craziest idea.
Comparing the Brazilian to Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson on WhoScored, it’s easy to point out how more creative Coutinho is compared to the Liverpool trio. The Barcelona man averaged more key passes per 90 than the three Reds players at 0.9 per game as well as more dribbles per game at 1.5 per game.
Things haven’t worked out well for Coutinho in Spain, and if a move back to Liverpool is in the works, the 26-year-old could offer his former club something they were lacking last season.
Liverpool fans, would you take Coutinho this summer? Let us know!
