Jurgen Klopp has made it clear that Liverpool will not be held to ransom in their search for new midfielders in the summer window. 

The Reds boss has openly admitted that Liverpool will look to add new midfielders, but they are prepared to walk away from deals for overpriced players.

The likes of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner are expected to leave, while Arthur will return to his parent club.

According to The Independent, the Reds are compiling shortlists with several names, and they will switch attention if they feel the price being asked is too high.

The Reds are interested in Chelsea duo Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher, Brighton duo Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo and Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, while Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes has also been on their radar.

“We cannot buy the player then. If they are overpriced we cannot do it,” said Klopp.

“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 per cent until they are signed, but that is not new that some clubs might try that.

“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 – and you might have a favourite but if the other club doesn’t want to sell or someone else will pay the price that we cannot go with it, but usually we got the players we wanted. The one thing is can we afford them and then they are here.”

Liverpool transfer news: Bold statement from Jurgen Klopp 

The strategy is clear from the Reds – they will sign players but will spend within their limits.

The Reds were heavily linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, but the club decided against signing him as they felt that he would be too expensive.

Bellingham is reportedly on his way to Real Madrid, but Liverpool can still bolster their midfield areas by signing other top players.

One of them could be Alexis Mac Allister. Dean Jones wrote exclusively for Sportsbuffer that he is someone who could join Anfield, with James Milner moving the other way.

Nunes is probably way down the list, but Gravenberch could be a solid option. He has struggled for regular game time but Thomas Tuchel likes him.

Mason Mount would be a terrific addition for the Reds, though. He will enter the final year of his deal at Stamford Bridge and is yet to sign a new contract.

There are suggestions that he could sign a new deal with Chelsea but Liverpool would be ready to pounce on him if he decides to move on.