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Jurgen Klopp is unconcerned a lack of Champions League football could compromise his summer business – and is convinced he can attract the right players to Liverpool.

The Reds boss is already drawing up a list of targets as he aims to bolster a squad currently floundering in the middle reaches of the Premier League.

With a top-four finish unlikely, Champions League qualification is likely to rest on winning the Europa League as Liverpool prepare to resume in the competition against German side Augsburg on Thursday.

And when asked if a failure to earn a place among Europe's elite could affect his plans in the next transfer window, Klopp said: “If a player only wants to come to us to play in the Champions League, short-term ideas are always silly.

“I don't like this. I don't like it when players say 'ah, but you're not in the Champions League'. We want to GET you because we want to play in the Champions League.

“If you don't want to help us, and want to jump on a running train, then go somewhere else.

“You need the right mentality and quality. That's how it is. If there's a player who won't join Liverpool because we don't play in the Champions League or will only join because we're in the Champions League, that's not for us.

“Liverpool is a big name in European football and for sure there will be a few players who will say 'I want to play there'... well, until they get another offer from another club with a similar history and more money!

“'But it's 40 miles away from Liverpool so I can live in Manchester and play there and if I want to go to Liverpool I can go there instead'.

“There are a lot of players out there. We have to make the decision. If we can't convince the player then we can't. That's because of other offers or different things.

“I don't care. We will find players.”

Liverpool were priced out of a move for Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Alex Teixeira, with the Ukrainians selling the Brazilian to Chinese side Juangsu Suning for £38million.

Injuries have instead forced Klopp to utilise his current resources, with the likes of youngsters Brad Smith, Kevin Stewart and Cameron Brannagan proving themselves in the first team.

“We've already found players in our own squad,” said the Reds boss.

“We have developments in the squad with the young boys, we've seen them play and why shouldn't we give them the minimum of a pre-season?

“And I don't mean a pre-season with the 16 or 17-year-olds with players who haven't shaven in their lives!

“It's nice to have that, but unless he's Michael Owen or Mario Gotze and those kind of players who have played in the Premier League or Bundesliga at 17 or 18, it's difficult.

“Now we have players who are 18, 19, 21 whatever, we want them to take a part in pre-season, look to take their chance. So we've found a few new players in our squad, and while that's really cool that's not for the moment right now. It's for the future.

“I don't want to put too much pressure on their shoulders. We need to find a situation where they feel free enough to show what they can do. Then it's a big joy to follow that path.”