Barca up ante over Coutinho
PHILIPPE COUTINHO will fly to Germany today with Liverpool but Barcelona are set to make an improved bid of £80million for the Brazilian forward.
Liverpool have said their star man is not for sale at any price and have already rejected a £72m offer from the Spaniards but Barcelona are not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
That will worry Liverpool fans, with the sale of star striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona still fresh in the memory.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp held talks with Coutinho, above, at the weekend and told the player the club are not willing to let him go this summer. But with continued interest, there
is a worry the player’s head could have been turned, despite Klopp saying he believes Coutinho is happy at the club.
Liverpool’s stance mirrors that of Red Bull Leipzig, who are refusing to let central midfielder Naby Keita go, despite interest from Anfield.
Coutinho, 25, will travel for a training camp in Germany before a friendly with Hertha Berlin on Saturday. Liverpool then compete in the Audi Cup next week in Munich alongside Bayern Munich, Napoli and Atletico Madrid. Coutinho will be joined on the trip to Germany by Sadio Mane and Danny Ings, who both returned to full training yesterday.
The duo have been recovering from knee injuries, with Mane missing the last month of the season and Ings out for the whole of the previous campaign.
Emre Can will make the trip after being given extra time off following his participation in the Confederations Cup with Germany and new signing Andrew Robertson is also on the plane.
Liverpool starlet Ryan Kent is also attracting interest from a number of clubs looking to sign him on loan.
Premier League new boys Huddersfield – as well as Middlesbrough, Derby, Leeds, Sunderland, Bristol City, Reading, Aston Villa, Barnsley and Hull – are all keen on his signature.
Reds captain Jordan Henderson is hopeful he has put his injury woes behind him after missing the final three months of last season with a foot problem.
“I can’t remember the last time I had a full pre-season so hopefully this one I can stay injury-free and be feeling good,” he said.
He could get help in midfield if Naby, thought to be the subject of a £74m bid, arrives at Anfield.