Jurgen Klopp continues to insist that Philippe Coutinho is staying at Liverpool.
“There is no other way to interpret it – he is not available to be sold,” Klopp said in a press conference ahead of Liverpool’s game with Bayern Munich in the Audi Cup. “The word ‘not’ means there is no interpretation for that. It’s nothing new, is it?”
According to the Echo, Klopp has been reassured by the club’s owners FSG that the Brazilian star won’t be sold this summer, despite Barcelona’s determination to lure him to the Nou Camp.
Klopp’s words won’t prevent an increased offer from the Catalan giants – they are expected to up their previous £72m offer to a figure closer to £80m very shortly – and they will do little to quell the speculation from journalists determined to keep the rumour mill grinding, but hopefully they will settle the nerves of those around the club who realise the importance of the Little Magician.
Such confidence does lead one to wonder whether an agreement may have been made to allow Coutinho to move on at the end of the season – a move that would allow Liverpool mount a strong challenge for the Premier League title and Champions League with their most valuable player at the centre of Klopp’s plans, while also allowing the club time to seek out a suitable replacement without resorting to panic buying as they have been guilty of in the past.