Salah transfer talk shrugged off by Liverpool boss Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Kloppp is “not worried” when it comes to Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield.

After netting 39 times across all competitions this season, the Egypt international is now considered to occupy a standing among global football's elite.

That has alerted the likes of Real Madrid to his ability, with the Blancos in the process of drawing up a list of possible summer transfer targets.

Liverpool are aware that their star turn is said to figure on the recruitment radar at Santiago Bernabeu, but Klopp has no concerns when it comes to retaining a 25-year-old talent.

The Reds boss told Sport Bild on the exit talk: “I know that Mo feels very comfortable here and he knows that our style of play suits him very well. So I am not worried about a transfer.”

Salah signed for Liverpool for £36.9 million in the summer of 2017, with the Reds moving to bring a former Chelsea flop back to English football.

They have seen an immediate return delivered on that investment, with the African star hitting the ground running on Merseyside.

That has not been the case for all of the recent recruits at Anfield, with some requiring longer in which to find their feet.

German goalkeeper Loris Karius falls into that category, having endured a testing debut campaign, but the 24-year-old has also come good to justify the faith shown in him by Klopp.

“Maybe it was my fault that I played him shortly after he came back from his hand injury. But I was always convinced of his talent,” said Klopp of a fellow countryman.

“If not, we wouldn't have bought him. Loris is a young keeper with great potential and he does a great job.”

PAUL ELLIS

Those at his disposal have helped Klopp to oversee a run through to the semi-finals of the Champions League this season.

Premier League leaders Manchester City are the latest side to have been bundled out of Europe by the Reds, but Pep Guardiola is still held in the highest regard by the man who masterminded his continental demise.

Klopp said of an old adversary: “Everywhere he has been, everyone can recognise his talent. That was the case in Barcelona, at Bayern and now in Manchester.

“If he's not my opponent, I love watching his football. You don't have to force me to watch City games!”