LIVERPOOL - Jurgen Klopp says Philippe Coutinho will not be sold as Liverpool target the Premier League title.
Coutinho has been linked with a move to Barcelona but, as Liverpool prepare to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, Klopp insists the Brazilian will stay and help his side close the 17-point gap that separated Liverpool and Chelsea last season.
"Yes, we will be playing for the championship," said Klopp. "You don’t start a season without ambition."
Klopp’s title push could be boosted by the arrival of Virgil van Dijk. His desire to move to Liverpool is as strong as ever and he is set for talks with manager Mauricio Pellegrino about his future at Southampton.
However, Klopp’s main concern is Coutinho’s future. When asked if a switch to Barcelona would see Liverpool return with a bid for RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita, Klopp replied: "You formulate the question in a strange way. Where is the interpretation if you say he (Coutinho) is not available to be sold?
"The word ‘not’ means there is nothing to interpret. It is nothing new for us."