Liverpool have been linked with a surprising return for Philippe Coutinho, with reports claiming Barcelona have proposed a return to Anfield for the Brazil international. The Catalan giants owe the Reds a payment for the Samba star, who moved to the Nou Camp back in the January transfer window of 2018. So Express Sport will now examine four shirt numbers Coutinho could wear if he’s to make a blockbuster return.
But Coutinho may not care if it means returning to Liverpool, the team he enjoyed his best form with prior to his exit nearly four years ago.
The No 18 is vacant over at Anfield, last worn by Takumi Minamino.
And though Minamimo will return from his loan spell at Southampton this summer, there’s no guarantee the former Red Bull Salzburg star will stay put on Merseyside.
So it’s definitely one Coutinho could consider if he heads back to the Reds.
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Another possibility for Coutinho would be the No 25 shirt, which has actually been worn by at least one good asset over the years.
It was the jersey Pepe Reina took when he joined the club back in the summer transfer window of 2005, with the Spain international certainly doing it justice.
Igor Biscan wasn’t memorable, while Neil Ruddock was a questionable - if commanding - presence back in the nineties.
But Coutinho could take it on.
And if he’s to be half as good as Reina upon potentially returning, then Jurgen Klopp’s side would certainly be onto a winner.
Liverpool could give Philippe Coutinho the No 25 shirt worn by Pepe Reina (Image: GETTY)
Number 10
The No 10 shirt at Liverpool has been worn by Sadio Mane ever since his arrival from Southampton back in the summer transfer window of 2016.
Yet with rumours continuing to suggest the Senegal international may seek a new challenge elsewhere, Coutinho could be a replacement.
And he may also opt to take the No 10 jersey back if that does indeed happen.
Obviously, there’s still plenty of work to do. And Coutinho returning to his old club is far from guaranteed.
But with reports suggesting it’s possible, it’s still something to ponder nonetheless.
Liverpool saw the best of Philippe Coutinho during his Anfield stint (Image: GETTY)
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Klopp’s comments on Coutinho
Speaking after Liverpool sold Coutinho, Klopp admitted he had wanted the Brazilian to stay.
"I really respected Phil's switch from the first second," the German told the Pure Football Podcast at the time.
"Not that I do that all the time but it felt oh wow that could be difficult.
"So it's not about yes we signed a new contract so many weeks before that but it was really clear he would not have asked me for any other club but for this club, there was no chance.
"Then we had to be hard in the summer because we had no other solution. We lost Adam Lallana [to injury] in that time as well, we would have lost two players.
"That's not possible, you cannot solve that on the transfer market.
"He was open to that [staying] and that was really cool. Then you have to be fair in the window and say we can do it, we don't like it but we can do it.
"Phil was our boy for a long time. We respect him a lot and wish him all the best.
"That's how football should be. That's the most important thing the club showed in that moment."