Jurgen Klopp is uncomfortable with his Liverpool side being described as the best in the world but thinks Anfield has re-established itself at the top of the pyramid for elite players seeking a Premier League move.

It was not long ago that Liverpool were compiling lists of potential recruits and considering how many of the game’s most coveted stars could be attracted to Merseyside given the superiority of their top-four rivals.

The dilemma for Klopp and sporting director Michael Edwards this summer is how many of the most sought-after signatures they will politely refuse.

RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner has openly flirted with the Premier League leaders during the past week, declaring himself proud to be linked with Liverpool and suggesting that he would fit perfectly into Klopp’s system.

For Klopp, it is evidence that, with the exception of Spanish and South American stars, world-class players want to play for Liverpool as much as Barcelona and Real Madrid.

“I think for some players, if Barcelona or Real call, it’s still hard to say ‘no’,” said Klopp, whose side face West Ham on Monday night.

“I think for the whole world, Liverpool are one of the top, top, top, top clubs. But in the South American part of the world, the other two are a bit more famous which makes sense language and culture-wise. It’s why calls from them could always cause some trouble, but apart from that, there’s not 500 clubs who could buy players from us.”

Much of that has to do with the manager and his style, of course. Thinly disguised ‘come and get me’ pleas such as Werner’s are naturally welcomed, as is an ongoing association with Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, even if his current valuation of £100 million looks prohibitive.

If Paris St Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe decides he wants to move to the Premier League, it is inconceivable that Liverpool will not revive interest first declared when he left Monaco - even if it would create a demanding financial challenge.

Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Kai Havertz is another who Bundesliga experts believe would slot comfortably into Klopp’s system.

The problem with all these names - aside from their considerable cost - is Klopp’s content with the established line-up already at his disposal and reluctance to sanction massive spending when there are no obvious vacancies in the starting XI. There are game-changing, world class talents who can reshape plans in the same way as Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson - Mbappe undoubtedly falls into such a category - but Klopp does not see many who can move to Liverpool and expect to become immediate starters.

“The CV [we are looking for] is not easy to fulfil,” explained Klopp. “The age group of the team is good in this moment. In two or three years, maybe it’ll be different but for the moment, it’s good. It depends on what you want - is it a good age for selling? Probably not. But is it a good age for performing? Yes. So there’s a lot of things we have to think about. It’s an interesting period.

“Last summer, we did Sepp van den Berg, Harvey Elliott and Adrian and people were not happy that we didn’t do any more than that because they think we need this and that here and there.

“We will see if we can make the right decisions again. It doesn’t depend on us alone, it’s the market, it’s the things around that will have an influence.

“It’s not that we are going mad about what is out there - we want the right player, we don’t just sign any.”

Werner and Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone claimed this week Liverpool are the world’s best, although Klopp is not impressed by such lavish praise.

“This thing with ‘the best team in the world’ - I don’t really get it. It’s nice when people say it - it’s better than if they say you are the worst team in the world obviously. Usually if people mention the best team in the world you think of Real Madrid from a few years ago, Barcelona from a few years ago, Man City of the last two years and stuff like this. The team we have is about attitude — go and go and go — mixed with really good football players.

"They watch us maybe three or four times and we watch every game. We are for sure more critical of our performances because they only see the results, which are exceptional - no doubt about that - but we don’t see ourselves as the best in the world.