BERLIN, GERMANY - Saturday, July 29, 2017: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia during a preseason friendly match celebrating 125 years of football for Liverpool and Hertha BSC Berlin at the Olympic Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Jurgen Klopp reveals Philippe Coutinho is now “ill” with return unknown

The Philippe Coutinho saga has taken another slight twist, with Jurgen Klopp revealing that the Brazilian is now “ill” and he doesn’t know when he’ll return.

The summer-long soap opera involving Coutinho’s future had looked like reaching an end this week, with Barcelona seemingly ending their interest in the 25-year-old.

Reports on Tuesday claimed Liverpool’s star man will be reintegrated in the squad in the near future, with clear-the-air talks taking place.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday night at Anfield ahead of Wednesday’s playoff against Hoffenheim, Klopp revealed that Coutinho is now “ill.”

“He’s now ill,” said Klopp. “If he would start (training) tomorrow, it would take time because he has no training for a long time. So no idea (when return).”

The Liverpool manager added that, “it is 100% clear that nothing has changed” in terms of his future.

When Klopp was later asked about whether he would welcome Coutinho back, his response was, “of course.”

Asked if everything is okay between him and the player, Klopp said: “Yes, absolutely, indeed 100%.”

Coutinho had initially been missing with a suspiciously well-timed back injury, during a period in which he handed in a transfer request.

An international break follows this weekend’s Premier League action – it will be interesting to see if Coutinho features for Brazil, and how things unfold upon his return to Liverpool.

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