Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he would welcome Philippe Coutinho back into his first team plans despite the player trying to force through a move away from the club.
The 25-year-old Coutinho has been strongly linked with a move to Spanish giants Barcelona over recent weeks, who reportedly view him as a replacement for Neymar after the Brazilian international joined PSG in a World record deal.
The Reds have also rejected three bids from the Catalan giants for the Brazilian and he has yet to feature for the Merseyside club this season.
Coutinho will need to start playing regularly soon, whether or not his transfer to Barcelona goes through if he wishes to win a place in the Brazil squad for next year’s World Cup.
Klopp has now revealed that there is no tension between him and Coutinho and confirmed that he would welcome the player back to his first team fold.
The Liverpool manager was asked at a news conference whether everything was OK between the manager and the player and replied: “Of course. If Phil would start tomorrow, which he can’t because on top [of the back injury] he’s now ill, it would take time because he’s had no training for a long time.
“[I have] no idea in this moment [when he’s back]. We would have to check in the moment when he is back.”
