Jurgen Klopp has hit back at Barcelona’s comments over signing Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho. Barcelona have identified Coutinho as the ideal replacement for Neymar, who left the Nou Camp to join Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record £200million deal earlier this month. Coutinho has handed in a transfer request at Liverpool in order to force through a move to the Catalan giants. And Barca general manager Pep Segura fuelled speculation last night, claiming they are close to signing both Coutinho and Borussia Dortmund forward Ousmane Dembele. He said: “Signings? We’ll strengthen the team in the next few days. “Coutinho and Dembele? We’re close, but until everything is finalised, we can’t say anything else. We hope they can wear Barca’s jersey.” But Anfield boss Klopp suggests there has been no development on Coutinho’s situation, claiming he’s never even heard of Segura.
On Segura’s comments, Klopp said: “I don’t know why other people are saying what they’re saying. I don’t even know him. I have never met him. “We have already said what we have to say. No news from me. Nobody told me anything different since we spoke last time. “Since he had a back problem he is not in training. I have nothing bad to say about this. We are not silly, we know it is a very difficult situation – but there’s nothing new to say. “It’s not always easy for me to say the 100 per cent truth, even if I don’t like to lie. But this time this is the situation.” Coutinho has not featured in either of Liverpool’s opening two games of the campaign – or been training with his team-mates – due to a back injury he picked up in pre-season.
And Klopp went on to rule the Brazil international out of Liverpool’s next game at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday (3pm). “Phil is not available. Not in training so far,” Klopp added. “I have nothing to say about his attitude. He has a back injury. Medical department have no complaints.”
