Bayer Leverkusen's director of sport Rudi Voller has strongly dismissed speculation Liverpool target Stefan Kiessling could leave the club in January.

The German striker scored twice on Saturday as Leverkusen beat Borussia Monchengladbach 5-0, in what was his first league start since October.

But after the match the 31-year-old hinted at a desire to leave Leverkusen admitting his lack of minutes was a “very difficult situation”.

“I’ve got to be honest and say we’ll have to see,” he told Sky Sport Deutschland.

“I’ve given it some thought and I will keep thinking about it.

“The situation is that of course I would like to be playing – I’ve been here for 10 years and love this club and everybody knows how happy I am here.

“I’ve got a pretty good relationship with the fans and of course also with the club.

“I love playing here and I love this club, and it’s overall a very, very difficult situation for me and everybody knows this.”

However, Voller has insisted Kiessling will stay at Leverkusen dealing a blow to Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of signing him as a back-up striker for the injury prone Daniel Sturridge.

“The fact is – Stefan will stay with us,” he told German newspaper Bild.

“He is a super guy, has a great personality. 

“It was a difficult situation for him. But with the performance against Gladbach he has again cemented what character he has. 

“We need a broad squad. He has to stay.”

Source: Daily Express

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.