Liverpool have missed out on a massive financial windfall due to Philippe Coutinho's injury.
Coutinho signed for Barcelona from Liverpool back in 2018 in a deal worth up to £140million.
However, the Reds are still yet to receive the full amount of that fee, as some of it was tied up in add-ons and instalments.
One of those add-on fees would only have been paid after Coutinho's 100th game for Barca, according to Spanish outlet Marca.
The Brazilian has played 90 times for the club since making the move to Spain.
And now, Coutinho is set to miss the remainder of the season after it was confirmed he will have knee surgery.
That surgery will keep him out until next season, but there is a possibility that Barcelona will want to sell him this summer.
The Catalans are eager to save some money this summer as they look for big-name transfer targets - including Erling Haaland.
And Coutinho is one of the club's highest-paid players, reportedly earning a whopping £250,000 per-week.
The financial hit of the Covid-19 pandemic has damaged Barca significantly, and they are set to try and offload players in the upcoming window.
If they are able to get rid of Coutinho, the clause ensuring they pay Liverpool an extra £17m will be null and void.
There is likely to be interest for the Brazilian playmaker when the window opens.
Coutinho was heavily linked with a return to the Premier League last summer, with Arsenal and Tottenham both believed to be interested.
A return to Liverpool isn't out of the question, either. The Reds will more than likely lose Georginio Wijnaldum this summer, while Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi are expected to be sold.
With those deals expected to take place, a return for Coutinho could well be on.
