Liverpool's Coutinho buy-back clause hinted at by Reds legend

Liverpool have been urged to re-sign Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona.

But Anfield legend Phil Thompson insists Liverpool should be looking to re-sign their former player this summer.

And he even suggests the Reds may have a clause in place to allow them to strike a cut-price deal.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Thompson said: "I would take him back in a heartbeat but it would have to be now.

"You don't want to leave it another 12 months because he still has the ability.

"I would have him back, I don't know about the club, but he is the one with that ability.

"With the club being shrewd, maybe there is a buy-back clause for less than half of what we sold him."

Coutinho has often been played on the left by Barca and Thompson insists that position does not get the best out of him.

"He has suffered at Barcelona , playing out wide on the left. He is not Neymar," Thompson added.

"He likes to be in the middle where he can pull the strings, get on the ball and hurt teams. They don't love him at Barcelona like they loved him at Liverpool.

"He was that clever one, that little bit of creativity behind the front three, that you could go to in games where you have lots of possession."