Jürgen Klopp says Liverpool will not be held to ransom over summer signings and will move on to alternative targets if rivals use their desire for midfield reinforcements to ramp up prices.

The Liverpool manager said he was “pretty confident” the club would “bring in the players we want” as he accelerates plans to freshen up his squad.

Liverpool are pursuing a number of players to bolster their engine room, with Alexis Mac Allister, Mason Mount and Ryan Gravenberch among those who have come under consideration. James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will all leave Anfield on free transfers this summer.

The rebuild has been well trailed, with Liverpool prioritising multiple signings rather than pursuing an interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, who would swallow up a huge chunk of their budget given his £130 million price tag.

Yet, while Liverpool’s desire for midfielders is clear, Klopp insisted the club would not pay a premium and are not susceptible to prices being artificially inflated.

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

“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 it is not new that some clubs might try that.

“You might have a favourite [target] but if the other club doesn’t want to sell, or someone else will pay the price, we cannot go with it. But usually, we got the players we wanted.”

Klopp’s bullishness was further reflected in his optimism that Liverpool — who can close the gap to within a point of fourth-placed Manchester United with victory at home to Brentford tomorrow, although Erik ten Hag’s side will have two games in hand — will be a far tougher proposition next season.

Their present five-match winning streak is their best of the campaign and Klopp has liked what he has seen, with elements of Liverpool’s game back to their best.

“Counterpressing is again a law and not a proposal,” he said. “The signs I saw are really promising and I am happy with that. Another four games, a break, then a proper pre-season and we will be strong.”

By then, Milner will be at Brighton & Hove Albion, with the 37-year-old moving to the south coast on a free transfer despite Klopp seeking to keep him at the club.

“He knows how highly I rate him,” Klopp added. “[He is] an incredible part of the team and I would love to work with him even longer. Nothing positive in the last 7½ years would have happened without James Milner.”