KLOPP: WE ARE NOT SELLING COUTINHO

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has denied any plan whatsoever to let go of their playmaker and skipper Philippe Coutinho this summer.


Coutinho continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona. The Nou Camp dwellers are keen on luring the talented Brazilian to Spain despite him signing a new five year deal in January.

Coutinho has been crucial to Liverpool’s success in recent seasons. The niggling injuries this season limited his contribution to the team but he nonetheless inspired the team on many occasions. Liverpool were hit by poor form, absence and a spate of injuries to key players like Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson and the rest. However, Klopp is expected to keep his best players whilst reinforcing so they can challenge for trophies next year.

Coutinho’s January deal made him the highest paid player at Anfield. He reportedly gets £150,000 basic salary a week. Since Liverpool did not add an unbeatable buyout clause – a thing that is pretty standard these days for a top player at a top club –, Barca might believe they can force a deal. The Reds did not even include a release clause at all.

Klopp joked that the La Liga champs would have to pay many times over the current world record transfer fee to get Coutinho.

“When did he sign a new contract? So that would be a nice idea. With a £400 million clause! There are absolutely no plans. What our owners say is there is the absolute opportunity not to sell anybody if we do not want to,” Klopp said.

There were rumours that the Merseyside club would sell Lucas Leiva and possibly Sturridge this summer. But Klopp said the team was stable and added that the plan was to bring in more before the next season.