RB Leipzig are determined not to lose Naby Keita this summer.
The Times says Jurgen Klopp has made the Guinea international one of his transfer priorities alongside Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk.
However Oliver Mintzlaff, Leipzig's chief executive, has poured cold water on talk of an exit for Keita.
“We have decided that we will not sell any player from our starting line-up," he said.
“Ralf Rangnick [sporting director] told this to our team at the end of the season. We will keep our team together and keep on developing."
Liverpool could force Leipzig to reconsider their stance by tabling a bid in the region of £50-60m.
That would see the Reds smash their current club-record transfer fee of £35m, paid to sign Andy Carroll from Newcastle in 2011.