JĂźrgen Klopp on why Liverpool can't afford to sell wantaway Philippe Coutinho this summerReds boss believes he cannot put a price on Brazilian because it's too late to replace him
JĂźrgen Klopp says itâs impossible to put a price on Philippe Coutinho because itâs too late in the window to try to replace him.
The Brazil international submitted a transfer request on Friday in a bid to force through a move to Barcelona but it was instantly rejected,
Liverpool turned down a second bid of ÂŁ90million from the La Liga outfit earlier this week and owners Fenway Sports Group remain adamant that Coutinho will be staying put.
Klopp lost a number of key players to rival clubs during his reign at Borussia Dortmund but he says that sanctioning deals like that for wantaway stars is all about timing.
âI had to sell a lot of players in my managerial career,â Klopp said.
âSome had clauses, some had no clauses. We had the (Robert) Lewandowski thing and that was difficult when he went to Bayern on a free transfer. A lot of different things.
âThe only thing I can say about this is that in life everything is about timing â whichever club asks early enough.
âItâs like how we try to do it. If we ask early enough, we try to do it. If you ask early enough, you can either switch the plan of whatever. But you cannot come up, close to the start of the season and things like this.
âItâs like I said: the club is bigger than anybody. That is the most important thing. Itâs about doing it in the right moment. Itâs how we do it when we want to bring players in.
âMost of the other clubs wonât come to us and say âby the way, we have a good player, do you want to buy him?â
âIt is about timing. That is how I understand it. And that is all I have to say. Maybe everybody has a price â in the right moment. In the wrong moment? No price.â
The owners issued a statement on Friday morning insisting that âno offers for Philippe will be considered and he will remain a member of Liverpool Football Club when the summer window closesâ.
Their position is unchanged in the wake of the transfer request which was sent by Coutinho via email to sporting director Michael Edwards
Coutinho and his agent Kia Joorabchian have been made aware of the ownersâ resolve to retain his services throughout the summer. Liverpool are disappointed that Coutinho is agitating for a move despite the player having been told face to face by the owners that any such request wouldnât be entertained.
The clubâs expectation is that Coutinho will act professionally and wonât let either his team-mates or the supporters down.
Coutinho reported to Melwood as usual on Friday morning but didnât travel with the squad to Watford ahead of Saturdayâs game at Vicarage Road due to a back problem.
Speaking before the transfer request went in, Klopp had played down the prospect of Coutinho really pushing for a move.
âI have known him for 20 months and thatâs the only thing I can say about this,â he said.
âIf he would be fit and not in the squad, then maybe we could talk about it. But he is not fit.
âEverything is not like it should be but it is a normal situation apart from a few things flying around.
âThe player is not in team training. I donât go to the medical department every day and ask things like that.
âNobody comes to me every day and says âOh my God! Phil!â We speak about the injury. That is all.â
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-klopp-coutinho-barcelona-transfer-13466808 
