Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool should consider welcoming back Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho this summer - but only if the price is right.
Coutinho became the third-most expensive player in history when he made a £142million switch to the Spanish giants in January 2018.
The Brazilian had upset a number of Reds fans with his behaviour when failing in an attempt to force through a move to Camp Nou the previous summer, although Coutinho then responded with arguably the best form of his Anfield career before the transfer was completed a few months later.
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The 26-year-old, though, has struggled to be accepted by the Barcelona faithful, with it understood the club are willing to listen to offers despite the player being determined to stay put.
And Liverpool legend Carragher has suggested the Reds should remain open-minded if they are offered a chance to re-sign Coutinho.
"I wouldn't say I would be actively going to get him, but if there was a possibility of bringing Coutinho back for decent money, and Barca wanted to cut their losses a little bit because it hasn't worked out, then I'd do that," he said to the ECHO.
"Would he be welcomed back? I'm not sure. But he should be. I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be.
"I know he got a little bit of stick when he came back (with Barcelona for the Champions League semi-final earlier this month) because he wanted to move.
"But Alonso wanted to move to Real Madrid, Suarez wanted to move to Barcelona, and we still loved them when they went.
"Sometimes we pick and choose who we love when they leave. Nobody forced any player to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona, Mascherano is another one.
"Suarez only got stick when he came back because of his antics in the first game (against Liverpool), if he hadn't done that then he'd be adored when he came back. What's the difference between him and Coutinho?"
Liverpool were close to replacing Coutinho with Nabil Fekir last summer only for a 55m euro deal to collapse at the last minute.
Jurgen Klopp chose not to pursue any other targets, a move justified with the Reds finishing second in the Premier League table with a club-record 97 points while also progressing to the Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid on June 1.
But of Coutinho, Carragher added: "We lack that player in the squad. We have it in Lallana and Shaqiri, but this is a different level of player.
"It's the one thing Man City have on us, they have Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne. We don't have that type of player.
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"We have great midfield players who are all very similar. We could add something a little bit different.
"But that would only really be if it was a good price for us."
Carragher was talking at the launch of Watch Us Get Fit, an initiative he is backing to help improve physical activity in schools and the workplace.
Jurgen Klopp has indicated Liverpool won't spend huge amounts in the transfer market. And Carragher, now a pundit for Sky Sports, has pinpointed two positions the Reds should consider strengthening.
"I think we could do with a defender, a full-back who can play both right-back and left-back," he said.
"I don't think the cover for Trent or Robbo has been at the level we have needed at times. We've had to use James Milner and Jordan Henderson there and they do really good jobs, but it's not like having a proper full-back there.
"We need another attacker on the level of the front three. Not a centre forward. People are saying we need a striker, but I don't believe that.
"Another Mane type, maybe a bit younger and up and coming. People talk about the Ajax wide players, I don't know too much about them other than seeing them in the Champions League.
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"But somebody who can play left, right and through the middle, who can move about. So you'd have four players going for three positions. And you'd still have Rhian Brewster coming through and Divock Origi.
"We don't need a striker because Mane and Salah can play up front, and Firmino is first choice."
