Julian Brandt rules out Liverpool move this summer but Jurgen Klopp could return for him after World Cup

The Germany winger has also been linked with a move to Bayern Munich

Germany winger Julian Brandt has ruled out a move to Liverpool this summer insisting a move to a bigger club is too much of a risk a year before a World Cup – although it could materialise next year.

Jurgen Klopp had been keeping an eye on the 21-year-old as he looked to add another attacker following the £34.3m signing of Mohamed Salah, with Bayern Munich also interested in the Beyer Leverkusen man.

Leverkusen had a poor season last term which involved a 12^th-place finish and the sacking of head coach Roger Schmidt.

Brandt, who is currently with Germany at the Confederations Cup, feels partially to blame for the club’s poor form, leading to his father and agent both denying he would leave the club.

“My stomach as well as my mind tell me that the right moment for a transfer is not there yet,” he said to Kicker.

“I am still young, but also in my fourth year - I feel responsible for the bad season. I therefore see it as my duty to bring the club back where it belongs and for me that means among the top six.

“Of course there are players who say a year without European football ahead of the World Cup is a reason to change clubs.

“But a transfer to a bigger club is also taking a risk one year ahead of the World Cup. You have to settle in there and possibly you don't get so much game time.”

It is likely that it means Liverpool will have to wait 12 months to do battle with Bayern for his signature, given that he will then be entering the final year of his contract.

Klopp is doing a lot of his shopping in Germany this summer, with Bundesliga runners-up RB Leipzig telling the Reds that they must spend £70m – double what they paid for Salah – to sign midfielder Naby Keita, according to Bild.

As well as Keita, Klopp is also understood to be keen on Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with the Gunners needing to sell this summer to keep their wage budget within Premier League rules if they are to keep Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

Liverpool are also keeping tabs on Keita’s Leipzig teammate Timo Werner, after his goals fired the east German side into a second-place finish behind Bayern Munich.

Only three strikers scored more times than Werner’s 21 strikes over the course of the Bundesliga season and the Reds want a natural goalscorer to help deal with Champions League football.

Chelsea’s Dominic Solanke is already set to arrive at the end of his contract on July 1st, while Hull's Andrew Robertson is an option at left-back given James Milner had been forced to play there throughout this season.