Philippe Coutinho absent as Liverpool travel to Dubai for winter training camp
Saturday 6 January 2018 19:44, UK
Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho has not travelled with the squad for a warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
The Brazil international, who is currently sidelined with a thigh injury, was among a number of first-team players - undisclosed by the club - who stayed behind on Merseyside.
Speculation has been growing about a renewed bid for Coutinho from Barcelona, who had three offers rejected - the last totalling £113m - for him in the summer.
Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says Barcelona will go "as far as it takes" to get the Brazilian, and are preparing a bid of £133m (£97.5m up front, plus £35.5m in add-ons).
Ahead of their match against Levante on Sunday, Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde called the midfielder a "great player" but refused to be drawn on the issue.
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"Coutinho is a great player, like other players that I am often asked about in press conferences. But I prefer to talk about the players that I already have," Valverde said.
"When there is something new to say, the club will announce it."
Coutinho handed in a transfer request last summer in an attempt to force a move but was unsuccessful.
The Brazilian has not played in either of the Reds' matches since the transfer window opened in January because of a minor thigh problem, but manager Jurgen Klopp said on Thursday he expects the 25-year-old to be fit for next Sunday's visit of Manchester City.
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