KEY POINTS

  • Coutinho reportedly has asked Klopp for a Liverpool return
  • The player has also agreed to accept a pay cut for the same
  • Barca signed Coutinho for $177 million in January transfer window in 2018

Philippe Coutinho reportedly has contacted Liverpool FC boss Jurgen Klopp personally pleading for a return to Anfield.

Coutinho, who had forced himself out of Liverpool during the January transfer window in 2018 to move to Barcelona, was loaned out to Bayern Munich ahead of the 2019-20 season and now is up for a sale as the German champions have refused to keep the midfielder permanently.

When the Brazilian’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, earlier had admitted that Coutinho was looking to end his disaster run in Spain by returning to the Premier League, Manchester United was among the Premier League sides to have been linked with the player ahead of the summer transfer window.

Barcelona signed the Brazil star for $177 million and now are desperate to get rid of him. While they have received interest from the likes of Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leicester City, according to Sunday World, Coutinho is eager to return to Liverpool, a club that made him a global star he is today.

Mallorca's clash with Barcelona was played out in an empty stadium in the Balearic Islands as La Liga continued its return from a three-month shutdown
Mallorca's clash with Barcelona was played out in an empty stadium in the Balearic Islands as La Liga continued its return from a three-month shutdown AFP / JAIME REINA

Liverpool currently cannot afford to make expensive signings due to a lack of funds. Due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Klopp was forced to back out from the race to sign RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner. Even though the German was Liverpool’s top target ahead of the summer, the Merseyside team had to axe Werner’s move to Anfield. After Liverpool refusing to sign him, Werner has agreed to sign with Chelsea but the official announcement has been held up due to the coronavirus travel restrictions in Germany and the U.K.

Coutinho earns a massive $280,000 a week at Barcelona, who have agreed to pay a portion of the player’s wages if they send him on a loan again next season. However, the Catalans are keener on selling Coutinho this summer.

Joorabchian, who has been assigned with a task to secure Coutinho a return to Liverpool, has revealed to the Reds that his client has agreed to accept a pay cut if that’ll take him back to his former club.

Coutinho, during his six-season stint with Liverpool, scored 54 goals in as many as 201 appearances for the club across all tournaments. Meanwhile, he has scored 21 goals in 76 matches for Barcelona and nine goals in 32 games for Bayern Munich.

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