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Liverpool hold Philippe Coutinho transfer glimmer but Barcelona must agree to one term
Liverpool have been linked with a sensational return for Philippe Coutinho.
Philippe Coutinho: Barcelona 'willing to take loss' says pundit
Liverpool reportedly have one way of re-signing Philippe Coutinho and any deal will hinge on Barcelona. This week the Reds have been linked with a shock return for their former playmaker, who spent five years at Anfield.
Yet when Barcelona came calling, it became clear that Coutinho's head had been turned.
In the summer of 2017, Barcelona had three bids rejected by Liverpool, who were adamant he was not for sale.
Coutinho then handed in a transfer request ahead of the new Premier League season as a mysterious back injury kept him sidelined.
Jurgen Klopp held crunch talks with Coutinho, who was slowly reintroduced back into the fold.
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But when the January window opened, Barcelona returned and Klopp felt he had no option but to sell.
Now Coutinho may wish he could turn back time and rectify the situation, as he fights to get his career back on track.
Liverpool are one of the clubs who could hand him a lifeline as he returns to Barcelona this summer.
The Catalan giants are keen to offload the flop and could be willing to accept a loss.
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According to The Athletic's James Pearce, Liverpool's only chance of re-signing him would be if Barcelona dropped their valuation to an affordable package.
"I honestly don't see it happening," Pearce said on the Red Agenda Podcast.
"I just think it doesn't make sense.
"I think the only glimmer is that if a deal dropped to such a low level financially with Barcelona willing to effectively subsidise his wages.
"I think people have such short memories of about how much of a stink he kicked up in terms of a transfer request on the eve of a new season.
"That is pretty damning on what his attitude was like around the place and shows just how desperate he was to get away.
"It just wouldn't make sense to me, I think Liverpool have moved on without Coutinho.
"They've evolved as a team and are certainly a lot less predictable without him.
"I would be absolutely amazed if it happened."