Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp shows first sign of weakness as Barcelona close in on Philippe Coutinho
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LIVERPOOL have shown first signs of surrender in their fight to keep Philippe Coutinho.
Boss Jurgen Klopp edged the door open for his wantaway star to join Barcelona for £90million after their 3-3 draw at Watford.
German Klopp fumed: “I don’t make the decision.
“If we sell a player, or don’t sell him, then I must accept it.
“I cannot say anything about the situation. I just work with the him, then I must accept it. I just work with the players I have and that is what I’m always doing.”
That was a significant step away from Klopp’s previous stance — that the club would snub any bid from Barca to replace £198m Neymar.
There are fears at Anfield that Klopp could quit if Coutinho leaves.
But the Brazilian playmaker upped the stakes by making a transfer request on Friday.
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Coutinho, 25, an £8.5m buy from Inter Milan in 2013, missed yesterday’s match, apparently with an ongoing back injury.
And in a further blow for Klopp, Southampton are adamant they will not do business with the Reds over Virgil van Dijk.
Chelsea and Manchester City are now favourites to land the £60m-rated Dutch centre-back, 26.
Saints do not want to let Liverpool off the hook having accused them of tapping up Van Dijk during the summer.
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