Coutinho return
17:13: Liverpool and Manchester City have teamed up to fund a private jet to bring their Brazilian players back from international duty before Saturday’s Premier League showdown.
Manchester City host Liverpool at the Etihad this weekend (12.30pm) and both clubs want their South American stars on display.
Liverpool are desperate to get Philippe Coutinho back, despite the midfielder having hesitations about returning, along with striker Roberto Firmino.
City have Gabriel Jesus, Ederson and Fernandinho all away with the Brazil squad.
Brazil face Colombia this evening and the Premier League contingent are all scheduled to return to England this week.
But in order to give them more time to recover and train with their clubs, City and Liverpool have clubbed together to bring their South American stars home earlier, Sky Sports claim.
Coutinho to Barca still on
16:51: Philippe Coutinho will leave Liverpool to join Barcelona next summer, says former Reds striker John Aldridge.
He told the Liverpool Echo: ”He's a lovely fella, he's a good family man, and Barcelona turned his head. It can happen.
"The move over there didn't happen for him but I'm sure he'll give us a really good season and wave goodbye next summer, because Barca will come back for him, he's too good to be ignored."
Klopp on Clyne injury
15:58: Liverpool full-back Nathaniel Clyne could be sidelined for a number of months as he continues to recover from a back injury, says Jurgen Klopp.
"Nathaniel is working hard on his rehab and we have kept a close eye on his progress,” Klopp told the club’s official website.
“But the reality is we are looking at some time still before he is back and available for selection.
"I am told it will be longer than just a couple of weeks, so we will continue to monitor and assess.
"It is pretty certain he'll not be available for the majority of the Champions League group matches.
"If we are fortunate enough to still be in UEFA competition in the New Year he could be added to the squad then."
Coutinho was "never" leaving
15.20: Liverpool were never going to let Philippe Coutinho join Barcelona this summer, according to former Reds managing director Christian Purslow.
Purslow says it would have sent out the wrong message if Coutinho was sold less than a year after he signed a new five-year contract at Liverpool.
“I never thought there was any prospect of Liverpool selling Coutinho this summer,” Purslow said on Sky Sports.
“Coutinho is the star player in a team that is on the up, a team now that is financially now tremendously well run, well capitalised under Fenway ownership, with the new stadium expansion, with a manager who is in the absolute elite top three or four coaches, highly ambitious.
“It would have sent a terrible signal about the priorities of that club if they sold their star player.”
Liverpool target Rafinha
14.45: Barcelona midfielder Rafinha is reportedly a January target for Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham, according to reports in Spain.
He was linked with a move away from the Nou Camp this summer but a long-term knee injury put paid to his exit.
However, the midfielder has been working hard to get back to full fitness and is targeting a January move.
And according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the 24-year-old is attracting attention from Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham.
Bartomeu on Coutinho
12:35: Barcelona chief Josep Maria Bartomeu has hinted they could resurrect their interest in Philippe Coutinho in January.
Barcelona failed to convince Liverpool to sell Coutinho in the transfer window, seeing bids as high as £118million rejected.
Coutinho remains intent on joining the Spanish side with reports describing the Brazilian as 'crestfallen' at having to stay at Liverpool.
And when asked whether Coutinho might arrive in the new year, Bartomeu told Mundo Deportivo: "I'm not talking about names. We'll see."
Barnes happy Coutinho stays
11.30: Liverpool legend John Barnes initially thought Philippe Coutinho was going to join Barcelona this summer but has praised his former club for standing firm and refusing to sell.
Barnes says he was initially surprised Liverpool turned down over £100million for Coutinho but reckons Reds manager Jurgen Klopp would have had a big influence in stopping him leaving the club.
“Who could have thought Liverpool could have turned down a bid of £140million for a footballer?” Barnes said on Sky Sports.
“Initially I did (think he would go) but towards the end I was with Liverpool.
“The good thing about Liverpool is that Jurgen Klopp is in complete control of everything at the club.”
Barca's Coutinho frustration
10.00: Barcelona sporting director Josep Maria Bartomeu has vented his frustration at not being able to sign Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho.
“We would have liked to bring Coutinho to strengthen centre of the field and help the front,” he told Spanish newspaper Sport.
“We said no because of the market prices.
“He would have been the icing on the cake to have a better team but the team is good enough and very competitive.”
Draxler never considered exit
09.45: Julian Draxler claims he never thought about leaving PSG last month.
Draxler’s future was in doubt after the signings of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
He was linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
But the German insists he is looking forward to the competition for places and the project in Paris.
“I only played two games for a short time [on the pitch] in Paris, but I came back to training four weeks later than other players because of the Confederations Cup,” Draxler told RTL. “That’s something which is forgotten about in the media sometimes.
“The 90 minutes [against Norway] have been very, very important for me. I also sent a sign to Paris that they can bank on me.
“I am greatly looking forward to playing with [Neymar and Mbappe] — but, if players are bought for €222m or €180m, they have an advantage on paper.
“But I am confident — that’s why I didn’t think about leaving Paris.”
Coutinho to skip Champions League
09:00: Philippe Coutinho is considering refusing to play in the Champions League for Liverpool to ensure his eligibility if he leaves in January.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Coutinho could refuse to play for them in an attempt to play for Barcelona in the knockout stages.
The report claims Coutinho's 'disgust' with Liverpool is 'monumental’ and he remains frustrated by the 'arrogant attitude' of the club.
Can battle
08.25: Liverpool face a battle to keep hold of midfielder Emre Can with Chelsea and Manchester United reportedly entering the battle for his signature.
Can is out of contract in the summer and is on Juventus’ radar, but reports in Italy claim the Serie A champions are bracing themselves for competition from Chelsea and United.
Can has impressed already this season, putting on a huge display in the 4-0 win over Arsenal.
But Jurgen Klopp has so far been unable to convince Can to sign a contract extension.
Juventus made a move of the 23-year-old during the summer transfer window and Express Sport understands they will make another approach next summer.
He can begin discussions on a pre-contract agreement from January and Juventus will steal a march on the competition if they hold talks then.
But if they fail to agree a deal then they could face competition from Chelsea and Manchester United.
Tuttosport claim the Premier League duo are keen on the German and could make moves in the summer.
Coutinho 'overrated'
07.25: Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho is overrated, according to former Brazil international Neto.
"So you know, how many titles has he won with Liverpool? None,” the former Corinthians man told Brazilian TV show Os Donos da Bola.
"Just to make it clear to you, because it seems that Philippe Coutinho is Zico, he’s Socrates, who did not win the World Cup. But they deserved to win.
"But Philippe Coutinho is not all that you're talking about. Calm down, slow down.
“He is a very good player, only he has not won a World Cup for us. But he is a very good player. I prefer Renato Augusto."
Klopp 'tricked' Barcelona claim
05:40: Jurgen Klopp used Philippe Coutinho as a ploy to make Barcelona pay more for Ousmane Dembele.
That is according to El Chiringuito journalist Eduardo Inda, who claims Klopp and Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke ‘tricked’ Barcelona.
“Liverpool never wanted to sell Coutinho, but there was a trick between Klopp and Watzke to make another player more attractive: Ousmane Dembele,” Inda said.
“The Frenchman could have been sold much cheaper to Barcelona compared to what they paid.
“The truth is that Borussia never expected to get €145m euros - the second most expensive transfer in history - for a footballer who cost them £12m from Rennes."
Can to Juve update
05:00: Juventus are considering a raid on Liverpool and Barcelona to sign Emre Can and Andres Iniesta.
Both Can and Iniesta are out of contract next summer with both yet to sign new deals at their respective clubs.
And according to Italian outlet Tuttosport, Juventus are ready to pounce on their situations and bring them to the club on a free transfer next summer.
As of February 1, players who are due to be free agents at the end of the season can technically agree terms with another club.
It is said they are also interested in hijacking Leon Goretzka’s proposed move to Bayern Munich from Schalke next summer.
The report adds the Serie A champions already have the wheels in motion to get deals over the line for the trio.
Markovic to Fenerbahce?
04:30: Liverpool have received an offer from Fenerbahce over the possible loan signing of Lazar Markovic.
Markovic, 23, signed for Liverpool in a £20million deal from Benfica in 2014, but he has failed to live up to his price tag.
The Serbia international has been loaned out three times during his time at Anfield, with spells at Fenerbahce, Sporting Lisbon and Hull.
And Turkish newspaper Turkiye claim he has been offered a way out of Anfield with Fenerbahce keen on bringing him back to the club on a temporary basis.
Turkish clubs are allowed to make signings up until September 8 and it is said they are hoping Liverpool will agree to allowing Markovic to leave.
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