Former Liverpool right-back Steve Nicol believes the Reds should consider Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho as a possible summer signing if he is available for the right price.

The Brazilian is currently sidelined with an ankle injury and, with his loan spell at Bayern likely to end this month, Barca are said to be desperate to offload him, with the Catalan club believed to be willing to subsidise his wages for any deal to go ahead.

Nicol thinks Coutinho could well fill the same role that Timo Werner could have done in Jurgen Klopp’s squad:

“You’re going to add a player with the ability of Coutinho, who is going to come in and be in the same situation as a Timo Werner for example, where he is there to fight to get in the starting XI.”

“If it’s cut-price, yeah. Listen, this guy’s making over £13m clear a year. He’s going to have to take a hit. The price to buy him is going to have to take a hit but if the money’s right, [it’s an] absolute no-brainer.”

“If the money’s right, this would be absolutely fantastic for Liverpool.”

The Brazilian international would be an extremely expensive squad player unless Barcelona opt to send the 28-year-old out on loan again at a reduced fee.

The likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal have been tipped as potential alternative destinations for Coutinho, with the midfielder keen on a return to the Premier League but, so far, there have been no takers.