Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, has shrugged off criticism of his defensive options heading into the new season, arguing there are few centre-halves better than he has.

Klopp’s interest in Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk, and the subsequent fall-out, has been well documented, but the Liverpool manager offered an insight into why he has not been tracking alternatives since the aborting of that move in June. If that deal can not be revived before the end of this month, Klopp is not planning to look elsewhere.

“Look out there and tell me five that would make us stronger. Five. Then you win a prize. It’s difficult how it is,” said Klopp.

“We have four. I don’t think we need more. In the moment I’m fine. We are open until August 31. We cannot force the things and we would never get a centre back just because (of the sake of it).