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Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly stated Philippe Coutinho will not leave Liverpool
Barcelona are trying to prise Coutinho away as a potential Neymar replacement
The Barca forward is edging closer to a £196m move to Paris Saint-Germain
But Klopp has told the Catalan giants they are wasting their time with Coutinho

Published: 04:33 EDT, 2 August 2017 | Updated: 07:27 EDT, 2 August 2017

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has reiterated to Barcelona that his star player Philippe Coutinho is not for sale this summer.

The Catalan giants have earmarked Coutinho as one of their top transfer targets, but the Reds boss has insisted he will be at Anfield next season.

Ernesto Valverde is eyeing a potential replacement for Neymar, who is edging closer to a move away from the Nou Camp to join Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record £196million transfer. He believes Coutinho fits the bill.

Barcelona are wasting their time in their pursuit of Philippe Coutinho, says Jurgen Klopp

The Reds boss told Barcelona to 'save their energy' in their pursuit of the playmaker

But Klopp has repeatedly rebuffed suggestions the Brazil international will leave the Merseyside club and has once more warned off his potential suitors.

'I can understand that Coutinho is so highly rated, but they can save their energy,' he said.

Coutinho was part of a Liverpool side who beat Bayern Munich 3-0 on Tuesday evening.

Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge were on the scoresheet as Liverpool continued an encouraging pre-season.

The Catalan giants are hoping Coutinho will replace Neymar is he leaves the Nou Camp

And the German is content with Coutinho's role in the side and his future at the club, as he sets his sights set on building the attack around him once again next term.

'He (Coutinho) began in the centre and then he switched to the left side because he is good at that and then we thought we'd do both things and he played very well,' Klopp added.

'[Around] 45-60 minutes he played very well, he can play both positions and that's what he did.'

The Reds are set to take on Atletico Madrid tonight (Wednesday) and then Athletic Bilbao in their final warm-up game on Saturday before they travel to Vicarage Road to face Watford on the opening weekend of the season.