Brendan Rodgers hails "world class" Philippe Coutinho

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has heaped praise on Philippe Coutinho amid speculation regarding a potential move back to the Premier League for the Brazilian.

Coutinho and Rodgers worked together at Liverpool before the latter was sacked in 2015, and following a turbulent time at Barcelona, Coutinho has been strongly linked with a return to England.

Leicester are one of several Premier League sides to have been credited with an interest in the 27-year-old, and Rodgers has been quick to sing the attacker's praises despite his recent struggles.

Speaking to The Beautiful Game Podcast, Rodgers said: "I think if you've watched my teams over a period of time you will see I like quick, dynamic, flexibility, rotation, movement, speed, power. That's the make up of my teams.

"When I was looking at the team in the first six months there were certain ingredients that were missing.

"Philippe was one I knew from my Chelsea days. We tried to get him to Chelsea when he was 14 but he had already committed to Inter Milan. So we talked about him in the summer and kept tabs on him. Then all of a sudden he became available. At 19 we thought 'Wow. Right let's get this boy in!'

"Most people would have probably looked at him and thought he's not for the Premier League. But what a talent. He intimidates people when he has the ball with his quality.

"It's sad to see people talk him down at the moment because it hasn't quite worked [for him]. But this boy is top, and if he comes back to the league he will show that he's world class."

Coutinho's agent Kia Joorabchian recently admitted that the Bayern Munich loanee is keen to play in England's top flight again one day.