Liverpool legend John Barnes says he doesn’t believe his former club will be interested in signing Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho next summer.

Reports in recent days have suggested that Liverpool and Bayern Munich have edged ahead of Manchester United in the race for the 20-year-old after the Red Devils failed in their attempts to sign him during the last transfer window. However, Barnes feels manager Jurgen Klopp already has strength in depth up front and wouldn’t want to spend so much on signing another forward:

“I can’t see Jadon Sancho getting in ahead of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah or Roberto Firmino, so for him to come he would have to fight for a place and not necessarily be in the team I don’t think anyone from the front three will be replaced and seeing as they’ve just signed Diogo Jota and they have Origi and Shaqiri, it doesn’t make sense to get Sancho.”

“I’d be very surprised if they get him. It’s good to get great players, but are Liverpool going to spend £100m on one player, I doubt it very much. I don’t think that’s one that will happen.”

A lot will depend on Liverpool’s succession planning for the front three. By next summer, Mo Salah will be 29 years of age, and while he is still very much at the top of his game, there will be a gradual drop off in his performance levels over the next few years.

Will sporting director Michael Edwards and Klopp see a deal for Sancho next year as a good idea as they look to find a long-term replacement for the Egyptian? We shall have to wait and see.