The Liverpool legend believes that the Reds should bring back the Brazil international from Barcelona if they can sign him for a cut-price deal.
Nicol, who now works as a pundit for ESPN FC, has added that Coutinho, who can also operate as a winger, himself would have to take a pay-cut to return to the club where he was very successful before making the move to Barca.
Nicol told ESPN FC about re-signing Coutinho, as transcribed by Goal.com: “Absolutely. Why wouldn’t you? I can’t think of one reason why you wouldn’t.
“The only place he’s excelled at is Liverpool. The place loves him, he loves the place. Can you imagine adding Coutinho to a squad that, right now are still champions of Europe even though they’re out of this year’s competition, and are going to win the Premier League?
“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.”
Back to Liverpool?
Coutinho, who is injured at the moment and is on loan at Bayern Munich, has not been a huge success at Barcelona.
The Spanish and European giants could well decide to sell or loan out the 28-year-old this summer.
While Liverpool have a very settled attacking unit, Coutinho would make the Reds better and would give manager Jurgen Klopp another strong option.
Coutinho’s vision, creativity, passing range, dribbling skills and ability to link up will make Liverpool a more potent force in attack.
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