Liverpool have no intention of launching a bid for Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele in January.

The Reds have been linked with a club record £85million swoop for the France international during the winter transfer window.

However, the ECHO understands that Dembele is not a player being targeted by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

In fact Klopp has no intention of adding to his squad in January as he believes the Reds are already well equipped in all departments to maintain a challenge for silverware.

Dembele joined Barcelona for £135million in August 2017 as Neymar's replacement but his progress has been hampered by injuries.

The 21-year-old attacker has been repeatedly linked with Liverpool since Klopp was asked about the speculation following a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea back in May.

“Dembele? Oooh, is he on the market? Now I am interested,” Klopp joked.

“I never comment on transfer rumours. I already said much more than I usually do.”

However, the reality is that Dembele isn't a target for either January or next summer.

Klopp confirmed earlier this month that he wouldn't splash the cash during the winter window having added more than £170million worth of talent to his squad last summer.

Only an injury crisis between now and the turn of the year would prompt a rethink.

“If crazy things happen then maybe we have to think new but I don't expect that,” Klopp said.

“In the moment we have each position twice, three times and sometimes four times covered. I don't think there is any reason to try to do something really big like bring in another striker.

“We have all that we need. Our job now is to use the quality that we have and to work with it because one player doesn't change it.”

Source: Liverpool Echo

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