KLOPP CHOPS KOP SHOP
Jurgen laughs at Barca bid for Coutinho.. and says the days of Reds selling stars are over
IT was a chance for Jurgen Klopp to underline the change in Liverpool’s transfer policy – and he didn’t disappoint.
Rather than selling their top stars, the Reds these days are more concerned with adding quality.
Boosted by a place in the top four, a club-record signing in the bag, the potential for another two high-profile additions, and the possibility of a sustained title challenge, confidence is high in the red half of Merseyside.
So when Barcelona tabled a £72million bid for Philippe Coutinho on Thursday, they were told in no uncertain terms that the Brazilian playmaker is not for sale at any price
Talking ahead of today’s Asia Trophy final against Leicester, Kop boss Klopp sounded another warning to the Spanish giants and any other big club hoping to plunder Anfield.
“A few people obviously see that Liverpool have a few good players.” he said. “But we are not a selling club.
“Keeping this group together would make sense.”
Liverpool’s stance mirrors the defiance of RB Leipzig, who are adamant that midfielder Naby Keita will not be sold to Anfield despite a £66m Klopp bid.
While Keita is understood to be keen to leave, Coutinho signed a new five-year deal to stay at Anfield last season.
A slot in the Barca team under new boss Ernesto Valverde appears to be opening up for a high-quality playmaker, especially with Andres Iniesta entering the final year of his Nou Camp contract and Neymar being lured by PSG.
But the Catalans appear to be in transition while Liverpool are moving from strength to strength. So while Barca were able to poach Luis Suarez from Anfield in 2014, they will not find it so easy to nab Coutinho.
Klopp, still keen on Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, wants to assure Coutinho that he won’t be expected to carry the team the way Uruguayan star Suarez did.
Klopp added: “Phil is a very, very important player, but we need to react better when he’s not on the pitch.
“He was out for a few games last season and when he came back, he was not in the best shape to get back into his rhythm. We have to be better in moments like this.”
Liverpool are set to further test Leipzig’s resolve with a bid of more than £70m for Keita.
Klopp added: “Things are getting more expensive. You get money from partners, TV stations, and fans and then you give it to another club. That’s the case and we are part of it.”