Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde responds to Philippe Coutinho questions

BARCELONA boss Ernesto Valverde has given a coy response to questions about Philippe Coutinho.

Liverpool star Coutinho is understood to be closing in on a £142million move to the Nou Camp with the clubs nearing an agreement.

In a sign that the deal could be close, Coutinho will not travel with his team-mates to Dubai for a warm-weather break.

Spanish newspaper AS have claimed Barcelona believe the deal is done and Coutinho could arrive in Barcelona this evening.

But speaking in his press conference today, Valverde hailed the Brazilian but refused to confirm whether the deal was done.

Reuters

Philippe Coutinho is desperate to join Barcelona

He said: ”He is a great player, just like there are great players who ask me permanently, I admit it, but what I like is to value what I have, nobody has been signed in. 

“It does not mean that we do not value the great players who there is for the world, but we also have great players.

"The fans what they want, apart from good players, is that their team wins and plays well, that is, from my perspective, what we can give.

The other, I am not such a Wizard King as to promise that."

EPA

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde hailed Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool are understood to be considering replacements for Coutinho with Leicester star Riyad Mahrez among the names mentioned.

When asked if he would take Mahrez if Coutinho went, Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson said: “Yes. 

“I don’t know where he’d get into the side. But you can see him, on his day, he can be a match winner. He can but he’s not done it enough and whether that’s because he’s been unhappy there or whatever. 

But this boy’s got tremendous talent, you see the quality that he brings. He can take it from A to B very very quickly which relieves pressure at times. Yeah he’s a talent, I’d take him for £20million! In my dreams.”