Coutinho not for sale as Liverpool bins Barcelona's reported €80M bid
Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool’s not prepared to sell off its greatest assets, and therefore spurned a reported approach from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho.
The Catalonian giant’s impending bid for Coutinho was one of football’s worst-kept secrets over the previous 24 hours, and the Reds were apparently unmoved when it arrived, although the Guardian’s Andy Hunter reports the offer was worth €80 million (£72 million).
“Yes, that’s what we can say,” Klopp replied Friday when asked if Coutinho wasn’t for sale. “But that’s not since this morning or yesterday, I’m not sure if it was different at any time. So, yes.
“I’m not surprised that any club is interested in players, if it is like this. A few people obviously see that Liverpool has a few good players. That’s how it is.
“But a very important message, maybe – we are not a selling club.”
Coutinho, 25, features highly on a list of players to potentially succeed 33-year-old midfield wizard Andres Iniesta at Barcelona. The Brazilian’s adeptness at slotting into a deeper position in the lineup was evident in one of his standout performances of last term: May’s 4-0 win at West Ham United.
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Some personalities behind the scenes at the Camp Nou could be egging on the club brass to table lucrative offers for Coutinho. The Rio de Janeiro native regularly partners friend Neymar in Brazil’s attack, and also counts Luis Suarez – with whom he played with at Liverpool for two seasons before the Uruguayan moved to the Mediterranean coast – as a close ally.
But Klopp isn’t keen on having one of his standout ranks pilfered before Liverpool ends a two-year exile from Champions League football, and tries to establish itself as a force in the domestic title race.
“We believe in working together, we believe in development together,” the German manager continued. “We believe in using the basis. We want to work together, we want to make the next step together and for this we need to stay together. That’s how it is.”
Referring to the 10 matches Coutinho missed last season due to injury, Klopp added: “Phil is a very, very important player but we need to react better when he’s not on the pitch, that’s how it is.”
The former Borussia Dortmund boss was addressing the media in Hong Kong before taking on Leicester City on Saturday. Liverpool won the first match of its East Asian programme 2-0 against Crystal Palace, with goals coming from new boy Dominic Solanke and Divock Origi.
