Klopp ‘feels personally let down’ by £137m Coutinho

Matt Stead

Jurgen Klopp has been ‘personally let down’ by Philippe Coutinho’s decision to hand in a transfer request, according to reports.

Coutinho has been linked with Barcelona throughout the summer, with the Catalan club having bids of £72m and £90m rejected for the Brazilian.

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group released a statement on Friday insisting that the player would not be sold.

But that same day, seemingly in response, Coutinho submitted a transfer request to the club.

Jonathan Northcroft of The Times reports that Klopp, ‘who puts such energy into creating group morale,’ has been ‘personally let down’ by Coutinho.

He adds that while Liverpool are expected to keep the 25-year-old, Barcelona will test their mettle. The Spanish side ‘are prepared to go as high as £137m’ if they make a third offer.

“I didn’t get it,” said Klopp of the transfer request at the weekend. “But I can say something that is maybe a more important thing. As a manager of a football club I have bosses, and if bosses decide, for example, just in general, if we sell a player or don’t sell him then I have to accept it.

“If they don’t sell him, then I’m not involved anymore. I’m responsible for all of the players, not just one, two or three. I cannot say anything about it.

“The only thing is I work with the players I have — that is what I’m always doing. So how does [the request] change something for me? I didn’t make the decision.”