The Brazilian will miss Liverpool’s match against Hoffenheim with a back problem (Picture: Getty)
Jurgen Klopp insists nothing has changed in Barcelona’s pursuit of Philippe Coutinho, with Liverpool still counting on the Brazilian even though he will miss their Champions League play-off.
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The former Inter playmaker will play no part in Tuesday’s match against Hoffenheim due to a back problem, as was the case at the weekend when he missed the 3-3 draw against Watford.
Barcelona are believed to be readying a third bid in excess of £100 million for Coutinho, while he tried to force the issue by handing in a transfer request on Friday.
Barcelona want Coutinho to replace Neymar, who moved to PSG for £198m (Picture: Getty)
But despite the rumours, Klopp says there has been no further movement on Coutinho’s potential switch to Camp Nou, with Liverpool’s stance still that he will not be leaving.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the German said: ‘Nothing has changed. Not on one side or the other side. He’s not available for us at the moment. That’s the main issue.’
Liverpool squad that travels to Hoffenheim Alexander-Arnold, Moreno, Lovren, Milner, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Can, Mane, Salah, Firmino, Kent, Solanke, Origi, Gomez, Klavan, Flanagan, Robertson, Matip, Grujic, Mignolet, Karius, Ward
Probed again on Coutinho’s future, he reiterated: ‘In the car on the way to the press conference I was not thinking about it. I only think about players I have in this moment.’
Skipper Jordan Henderson was also in attendance, and he added: ‘It’s a difficult situation for Phil and whatever I say won’t help matters. We want Phil to stay because he’s a world-class player.’
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Coutinho was thought to be against the idea of aggressively pushing for a move, but after FSG released a statement saying he would not be allowed to leave he was forced to act.
Klopp – who is very keen to keep Coutinho at the club – has previously said that the matter is now out of his hands, with the club’s owners deciding the Brazilian’s fate now.
Liverpool 2017/18 Fixtures 1899 Hoffenheim (A) – Tues Aug 15
Crystal Palace (H) – Sat Aug 19
1899 Hoffenheim (H) – Wed Aug 23
Arsenal (H) – Sun Aug 27
Man City (A) – Sat Sep 9
Burnley (H) – Sat Sep 16
Klopp is back in Germany to take on Hoffenheim in the Champions League play-offs (Picture: Getty)
After drawing with Watford, he explained: ‘As manager in a football club I have bosses, and if bosses decide, for example, just in general, we sell a player or we don’t sell him – then I have to accept it.
‘If they don’t sell him, then I’m not involved anymore. I’m responsible for all the other players, not just one, two, three. 25, whatever.
‘I cannot say anything about it. The only thing is I work with the players I have.’
It has been suggested that Liverpool could finally soften their stance and agree to sell Coutinho if a bid of £145m was made, though that is likely to be too high for Barcelona despite pocketing £198m from Neymar’s move to PSG.