---
title: "Virals: Liverpool ‘would be interested’ in shock Philippe Coutinho deal"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/virals-liverpool-would-be-interested-in-shock-philippe-coutinho-deal/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-10-13T18:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-10-13T18:26:23Z"
---

# Virals: Liverpool ‘would be interested’ in shock Philippe Coutinho deal

[Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/10/13/virals-liverpool-best-placed-to-sign-rennes-winger-jeremy-doku/) are once again being linked with a shock move to bring [Philippe Coutinho](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/09/09/virals-report-claims-liverpool-set-for-philippe-coutinho-windfall/) back to Anfield.

The Brazilian playmaker left the Reds for Barcelona in 2018 for £142million ([The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jan/06/philippe-coutinho-join-barcelona-142m-deal-liverpool)) but has struggled to succeed with the Catalan giants.

Seemingly [linked with a return](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-transfer-news-philippe-coutinho-25088010) to Merseyside every transfer window, mega-rich Newcastle United have also been [linked](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/philippe-coutinho-newcastle-united-transfer-21824036) with a January swoop for the 29-year-old.

According to Spanish outlet [El Chiringuito TV](https://twitter.com/elchiringuitotv/status/1447717248135749633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1447717248135749633%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sport.es%2Fes%2Fnoticias%2Ftelevision%2Fjugador-querria-deshacerse-laporta-invierno-12226584), as cited by [Express Sport](https://twitter.com/DExpress_Sport/status/1448193911692959744) on Twitter, Liverpool ‘would be interested’ in taking Coutinho back.

> Liverpool ‘interested in Philippe Coutinho return and Barcelona star wants Anfield move’ [#LFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#FCB](https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [https://t.co/Ezz4SIAOTt](https://t.co/Ezz4SIAOTt)
>
> — Express Sport (@DExpress\_Sport) [October 13, 2021](https://twitter.com/DExpress_Sport/status/1448193911692959744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Having recovered from various fitness issues, the [63-times capped](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/nationalmannschaft/spieler/80444/verein_id/3439) Samba star has made [six appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/leistungsdaten/spieler/80444) this season.

Last term, the ace once described as possessing [‘magical powers’](https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/coutinho-has-magical-powers-firmino-heaps-praise-upon-phenomenal-/g0yh5e5v41dm1hty0vp6wj909) by compatriot Roberto Firmino, [scored twice and provided two assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/80444/plus/0/saison/2020/wettbewerb/ES1/verein/131) in 12 La Liga outings.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Never truly replaced in a positional or creative sense since leaving Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp [took the opportunity](https://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2018/07/31/46691032/no-one-can-replace-coutinho-at-liverpool-klopp) to implement a new approach following Coutinho’s departure – focussed on influential full-backs.

Now the [emergence of Harvey Elliott](https://www.givemesport.com/1730417-harvey-elliott-liverpool-stars-preseason-masterclass-draws-comparisons-to-xavi-and-iniesta) and Curtis Jones, in particular, has seen the Reds’ with a more prominent creative spark in central areas.

Perhaps re-signing the [£18million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/philippe-coutinho/marktwertverlauf/spieler/80444) star early on in his nightmarish Barcelona adventure would’ve appealed to some. But now it seems as though too much water has gone under that bridge.

This all comes as journalist Sique Rodríguez Gairí [claims](https://twitter.com/BarcaUniversal/status/1448252235993976834) Barcelona still owe Liverpool €42million (£35.6million) on the original transfer.

Regardless of finances and the nature of the link, this has to be a non-starter.