Barcelona Offer Philippe Coutinho To Liverpool In Exchange For Forgiveness Of Remaining Debt

Barcelona have reportedly offered Philippe Coutinho back to Liverpool in exchange for the Reds writing off the £40 million they are still owed for the Brazil international.

It's a surprise transfer twist involving a player who left Anfield for Barcelona in January 2018 for a sum which could rise (or have risen) to £142 million if conditions were met.

But despite playing 90 games for Barca, scoring 24 goals, Coutinho has struggled to find his best form at the Camp Nou. He spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Bayern Munich (scoring twice against his parent club as the Bundesliga side humiliated Barcelona 8-2 in the Champions League).

Barcelona are also reportedly over £1 billion in debt, still owe other clubs' transfer money on several big signings - including Liverpool for Coutinho - and are determined to trim their wage bill to bring in new recruits this summer.

So in a way there is a logic to the report, via Spanish outlet AS, that Barcelona's plan to rid themselves of the approx €50 million they owe the Reds by giving them back the 28-year-old playmaker.

There is no news reported on whether Liverpool have responded to the alleged proposal or have any interest in re-signing Coutinho. A recurring knee injury interrupted his 2020/21 season, but the Brazilian has shown flashes of his best form, particularly while at Bayern.

AS also report that Barcelona plan to lower their wage bill by moving on veteran left-back Jordi Alba, long-time midfield anchor Sergio Busquets, French forwards Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele, plus utility player Sergi Roberto.

Jurgen Klopp certainly wanted to keep Coutinho at the start of the 2017/18 that he was sold, reportedly telling the attacking midfielder: "Stay here and they will end up building a statue in your honour.

"Go somewhere else, to Barcelona, to Bayern Munich, to Real Madrid, and you will be just another player. Here you can be something more."

But will Liverpool have any interest in re-signing Coutinho in exchange for calling off any future money they are owed for the player?

Let us know if the comments whether you think that's a smart move for the Premier League club.

All imagery: PA Images

Topics: Liverpool, Barcelona, Premier League, La Liga

Alex Reid

Alex Reid is a writer at SPORTbible who’s previously strung words together for FourFourTwo, Boxing News, The Guardian and, yes, Cruise International (it’s about big ships, not Tom). Interests range from football and boxing to real sports like WWE and darts. He is not a cage fighter.

@otheralexreid