Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has indicated that the Reds may not make any more summer signings during the transfer window but hinted that there could still be some departures from Anfield.

The Merseyside outfit have been busy in the window so far, signing Joel Matip, Sadio Mane, Loris Karius, Georginio Wijnaldum and Ragnar Klavan while selling the likes of Joe Allen, Martin Skrtel, Jordon Ibe and Brad Smith.

Ahead of his first full season in charge at Liverpool, Klopp was evasive when asked whether more players would be brought in, but he did suggest that it was more likely the squad would be trimmed further, per ESPN FC:

If I had to guess I would say rather no, but I don’t know actually because it’s a long time until the 31st of August and I have no idea [if more signings will be made]. [The] 31st of August we have a few friendlies of course and few test games and then we have, one, two, maybe three—I’m not sure—Premier League games.

So we will see. We will see how the players react on my decisions again because we will have more players than 11 for sure, and then you have to accept a few decisions and you have to take it as an opportunity.

To develop a team never ends so, you have only result, result, result, but then you will have to again decide. That’s how it is. So we will see. I don’t think we’ll have a lot. But of course everyone knows about it maybe on the outgoing side will happen a little bit … yeah I have no idea in the moment. 

It was always expected that Klopp would make a major overhaul of his squad during the summer given that the group he worked with in the 2015-16 season he largely inherited from predecessor Brendan Rodgers.

The defence was a key area of concern last term but the signings of goalkeeper Karius and centre-backs Matip and Klavan have gone a long way to solving the problems in the back line.

The German’s squad is far from perfect, though, and there remain concerns at left-back and in central midfield, per Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe:

The latest reports indicate that Liverpool are still trying to bolster their engine room but have had a bid rejected for Sporting Lisbon midfielder and Portuguese Euro 2016-winner Joao Mario.

Per Portuguese outlet Record (via Richard Amofa in the Telegraph), Kia Joorabchian, Mario’s agent, revealed that a number of bids have been turned down by Sporting for the 23-year-old, including one from Liverpool:

A European champion must be rewarded. From now on, we either discuss a new contract or the sale to another club.

Sporting received four offers. Inter Milan and Liverpool, certainly, with amounts between 35 and 40 million, plus bonuses. Sporting turned down all bids. 

Meanwhile, it seems the Reds are also still trying to address their full-back issues, with L’Equipe reporting the Merseyside outfit are interested in Lyon defender Jordy Gaspar, via Amofa.

Per French football writer Andrew Gibney, were Liverpool to snap up Gaspar, 19, they would hardly be signing a proven player, although he is versatile:

Arguably what Liverpool need is an experienced left-back who can be relied upon defensively, as Alberto Moreno is somewhat inconsistent in the position.

However, Klopp’s comments suggest he currently has no firm targets in mind, and he may even take on the 2016-17 season with the squad he already has.   

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