Philippe Coutinho could have headed back to Liverpool instead of Bayern Munich were it not for his former club’s tight budget.

The Brazilian left the Reds for Barcelona in January 2018 in a deal worth up to €145 million, but the 27-year-old has already been shipped out of the Camp Nou, joining Bayern on an initial season-long loan with an option to buy for €120m.

Die Rotten will pay his full wage package as well as an €8.5m loan fee, however, speaking to Goal, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp suggested the club were offered the chance to bring him back.

“It sounds a bit strange, but we could not afford it, we have already spent the cash that we got for him,” Klopp told Goal.

Klopp at the time was reluctant to let Coutinho leave with the playmaker a crucial player both in midfield and as an option in the front three of Liverpool’s attack.

And the German admitted if he had his way, Coutinho would never have left.

“We were reluctant to hand him over, but Barcelona forced us with money, so to speak,” he added.

“The move makes sense for both sides. He’s a super player and a great boy. He is a world-class footballer who can change games in the right environment.”