Coutinho 'may not play again for Barcelona this season'

Barcelona's desire to cut costs around the club could force Philippe Coutinho to watch the remainder of the season from the stands.

The Brazilian forward is slowly making his way back from injury, and was pictured last week returning to individual fitness work at the club's training base.

It is thought that he could be available to return to first-team action in March, however, he may have to wait some time longer to get back on the pitch.

That is according to Spanish journalist Javi Miguel, who writes for AS. In a TV interview, he explained that Barcelona would like to avoid using Coutinho for the remainder of the campaign, in a bid to avoid yet another transfer clause in his Liverpool deal.

According to the reporter, Coutinho is just seven games away from triggering a €5m appearance clause that will see the Nou Camp outfit owe yet more money to the Anfield side.

Barcelona's financial difficulties are no secret, with financial reports revealing the club still owe as much as £112m to 19 different clubs for transfer fees.

Nearly £25m of that is owed to Liverpool alone for Coutinho, and adding to that debt is not something the Catalan outfit wish to entertain.

Barcelona have asked a host of major banks to delay debt repayments so that the club can avoid insolvency, in an alarming development for the club's supporters.

They reportedly have a negative working capital of £535m, with a further £89m owed to other lenders.