Liverpool handed Karim Adeyemi blow after latest comments on January move

Liverpool have been handed a major blow in their race to sign Karim Adeyemi in the transfer window after his latest comments.

The RB Salzburg star is the talk of the town after a blistering season in front of goal with his most recent display the most impressive.

The 19-year-old netted his first career hat-trick for his club in a 5-0 demolition of WSG Wattens on Saturday.

He came on as a second-half sub at half-time and scored within four minutes of coming onto the pitch before adding another two in the final 10 minutes.

Plenty of clubs are interested in the striker, including Liverpool, but Jurgen Klopp has a battle on his hands.

Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund are determined to land the teenager, with the latter reported to be close to agreeing a deal.

But Adeyemi has brushed off speculation linking him with a move away from Austria after insisting he is not looking to go anywhere.

The Germany international was quizzed about his future immediately after his hat-trick on Saturday.

He said: "As is so often the case, nothing is decided yet and, as I have said, I'll also be at Salzburg next year, and that's where my focus is on.

"As I have said, I have no tendency. My mind is here at Salzburg and I'm looking forward to the Champions League with Salzburg. We want to give our all there."

RB Salzburg qualified for the latter stages of the Champions League for the first time this week.

They finished second behind Lille after beating Sevilla 1-0 on Wednesday night, relegating the Spanish outfit to the Europa League in the process.

Adeyemi has been in hot form this year, netting 18 times across all competitions for his club.

That includes three in the Champions League while comparisons have been made with Erling Haaland, who also had a blistering stint with the Austrian champions.

It has led to the teen becoming a fully-fledged international with Germany, playing three times this year and scoring against Armenia in the World Cup qualifiers.

His contract expires in 2024 while Liverpool have history with RB Salzburg.

In January 2019, the Reds snapped up Takumi Minamino for a bargain £9m but has struggled to make much of an impact at Anfield and was loaned to Southampton last season.

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Current stars Sadio Mane and Naby Keita also spent time at the Red Bull Arena but Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund has insisted Adeyemi is going nowhere - for now at least.

"Karim will finish the season with us, that is clearly the plan. I don't know what could happen if Karim doesn't finish the season with us," Freund told Sky Sports Austria in October.