Klopp clarifies Liverpool’s stance on Coutinho amid Barcelona talk

Jurgen Klopp has reiterated Liverpool’s stance that Philippe Coutinho is categorically not for sale at any price this summer.

Barcelona are resigned to the fact they will lose Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain this summer and have earmarked his international team-mate, and close friend, Coutinho as an ideal replacement.

There have even been reports suggesting Coutinho has intimated he wants to join the Spanish giants this summer but Klopp insists the club will not entertain his departure at any price.

“There is no other way to interpret it – he is not available to be sold,” The Daily Mirror quote Klopp as saying in Munich ahead of the Audi Cup.

Liverpool have accepted defeat in their pursuit of Naby Keita despite the fact they were willing to shatter their club transfer record to land the RB Leipzig midfielder and it would be a huge blow if there then unable to keep hold of Coutinho.

The Liverpool No.10 has the worst conversion rate in the last two Premier League seasons from those that have scored at least 15 goals (9.7%). However, only Lionel Messi (15) has scored more goals from outside the box than Coutinho (10) in Europe’s top five leagues in that period.