Jürgen Klopp has said Liverpool will not be held to ransom over transfer targets but are confident of making the signings they have identified.
Liverpool’s need for new midfielders is well established with Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister, Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Matheus Nunes of Wolves among the targets.
As a result, selling clubs could demand a premium from Liverpool for their players this summer, although Klopp insists he would switch to alternative targets rather than pay inflated fees. Liverpool withdrew from the race for Jude Bellingham due to the prohibitive costs of the deal and the extent of the rebuild required at Anfield.
The Liverpool manager said: “If they are overpriced we cannot do it. We cannot buy the player then. We will bring in players. I am pretty sure we will bring in the players we want and those who will help us. I am pretty confident of that. You never know 100% until they are signed but it is not new that some clubs might try that [to raise the asking price].
“Let me say it like this: You identify a position and you have not only one option on the position. That means they should all be good, to be honest really good. You might have a favourite but if the other club doesn’t want to sell or someone else will pay the price then we cannot go with it, but usually we got the players we wanted.”
Liverpool are understood to have presented an offer to representatives of Mac Allister but there is no agreement in place for the World Cup-winning midfielder. Brighton are expected to sign James Milner when his Anfield contract expires at the end of the season. The 37-year-old has been offered a 12-month deal by Brighton. Klopp did not confirm Milner’s imminent departure. “Milly knows how highly I value him,” he said. “He’s an incredible part of this team and I would have loved to have worked together with him even longer.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool have confirmed they will play the national anthem at Anfield before Saturday’s match against Brentford. This is despite their fans booing God Save the Queen before last season’s FA Cup final.
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The club said it would be played “in recognition of the Premier League’s request to mark the coronation”, adding: “It is, of course, a personal choice how those at Anfield on Saturday mark this occasion and we know some supporters have strong views on it.”