Jurgen Klopp reportedly sat down with Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards in the summer to discuss re-signing Philippe Coutinho.
The Barcelona midfielder left Liverpool for the Camp Nou in January 2018, putting pen to paper on a lucrative deal after completing a £142million switch.
But it became clear after Coutinho’s first season that game-time was going to be difficult, after the midfielder failed to set the world alight in Spain, and Barcelona made him available for loan.
A number of top clubs including Manchester United and Tottenham considered bringing the Brazilian in for the season before Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich finally won the race to sign him temporarily.
(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
According to The Athletic, Liverpool were also looking at re-signing Coutinho at the time.
Reds boss Klopp is believed to have even sat down with Liverpool’s recruitment expert Edwards to discuss the finer details of a deal to bring Coutinho back to Anfield.
However, the discussion wasn’t a long one because Barcelona wanted a staggering £8million loan fee, as well as Coutinho’s £250,000-a-week wages paid in full, and Liverpool were not prepared to stump up such a sum to sign him.
(Image: PA)
A clause to make Coutinho’s loan move to Bayern Munich permanent was included when he agreed terms with the German club.
But Bayern are unlikely to trigger this clause, meaning Coutinho’s summer could be a turbulent one for the 27-year-old as he looks for a new permanent side.
Reports in Spain suggest Barcelona would be willing to sell the Brazilian for a cut-price £77million in the summer, a whole £65m less than they paid for him.
