Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho could make Liverpool return against Manchester City, says Jurgen Klopp

Coutinho will miss Friday's Merseyside derby with a thigh injury but is 'in a bunch of players' available for the City match on 14 January

Barcelona have renewed their interest in Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho (Getty)

Jurgen Klopp has said that Philippe Coutinho could return from injury against Manchester City a week on Sunday, though once again refused to speak about the Liverpool playmaker’s future.

Speculation linking Coutinho with a move to Barcelona has intensified since the start of the January transfer window, with reports suggesting that the player believes he has played his last game for the club.

Coutinho is currently sidelined with a thigh injury and will play no part in Friday’s FA Cup Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield. Klopp did, however, suggest that the 25-year-old could return against Pep Guardiola’s league leaders in 10 days time.

​“He is in a bunch of available players for the City game,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference on Thursday, having confirmed that the Brazilian would play no part against Everton.

When asked directly about Coutinho’s future, Klopp maintained that he is “not interested” in discussing whether or not the player would still be at Anfield come the end of the current transfer window.

“All the things I could say now would only create stories so I have nothing to say. I have nothing to say. That’s how it is,” the Liverpool manager said.

“It’s a transfer window, that’s all. I know that means I have already opened the door halfway but there is nothing to say about it that would help me, the player, the club. That’s the only thing I’m interested in, that’s all.”

Klopp would also refused to entertain questions on who might replace Coutinho at Anfield if he does depart this month.

“That’s not my cup of tea. I’m not interested in that as well. Really nothing to say. Maybe 80 per cent of the cameras are here because of these answers. That’s a waste of time then.”