Cologne have dismissed reports of a bid from Liverpool for left-back Jonas Hector, reports ESPN.
Jurgen Klopp is believed to be interested in bringing the Germany international to Anfield as a replacement for Alberto Moreno.
And reports last week had suggested that Liverpool had made a move for the 26-year-old, offering £12m for his services.
But speaking to Bild, Cologne sporting director Jorg Schmadtke has now publicly dismissed such claims.
He said: “There is no offer from Liverpool. The rumoured fee speaks for itself, it can’t be a legitimate thing,” with the German paper adding that the Bundesliga side would want £15.7m if they were to sell.
Hector has emerged as one of the Reds’ reported leading targets this summer, with a replacement for current first-team left-back Alberto Moreno reportedly high on Jurgen Klopp’s shopping list.
But with Hector heading to Euro 2016, it seems that any move may now have to wait until after the tournament, with Germany’s opening group game only six days away.
Doing so – of course – poses the potential problem of attracting further interest from other European clubs should Hector have a good tournament, but Klopp will be hopeful that his ties with German football will be enough to convince him to come to Anfield.
Hector joined Cologne in 2010 from sixth-tier side SV Auersmacher – where he often played as an attacking-midfielder.
In his time at RheineEnergieStadion, Hector has made 120 first-team appearances and scored four goals, whilst earning 14 caps for the national side.
