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Simon Mignolet confident Liverpool would cope with demands of Champions League football next season

Jurgen Klopp’s men can guarantee their place in Europe’s elite competition with a win against Middlesbrough on the final day of the season

Saturday 20 May 2017 11:48 BST

Simon Mignolet has kept four clean sheets from Liverpool's last five games (Getty)

Simon Mignolet is confident Liverpool can cope with the demands of Champions League football should the side secure a top-four spot on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp’s men can guarantee their place in Europe’s elite competition with a win against Middlesbrough on the final day of the season. This would be the first time since the 2013/14 that the club has finished in the top four.

Although Mignolet admitted that the absence of European football helps retain freshness within a side, the Belgian was confident Liverpool can compete on both fronts next season.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

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1/9Liverpool summer transfer targets

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Naby Keita

A difficult signing to pull off, but one that Liverpool are interested in making. Keita's dynamic performances in the centre of RB Leipzig's midfield have caught Klopp's eye, but also the attention of Bayern Munich, who are also monitoring the player.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Timo Werner

Werner scored 21 goals in the Bundesliga last season as his goals fired RB Leipzig to second place and a first-ever Champions League qualification. The German club are keen to keep him but money talks and Liverpool are desperate for an out-and-out goalscorer.

Bongarts/Getty Images

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Dusan Tadic

The Southampton attacker is out of favour on the south coast and desperate for a way out of the club. Liverpool are interested in him to provide competition and back-up to the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana with the added strain of European football.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Andrew Robertson

Given Hull's relegation to the Championship, Robertson is one of the players in the shop window. Left-backs are at the forefront of Klopp's transfer activity and Robertson will come fairly cheap.

Getty

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Somewhat surprising reports have arisen over recent weeks that Chamberlain will be a Liverpool player next season. A disappointing season for Arsenal has left their squad in disarray, and it is thought that the 23 year-old midfielder is seeking a new challenge. The player’s versatility across midfield positions is an appealing to Klopp, who will need added squad depth. Arsenal will not be keen to sell to a rival, but if the rumours are to be believed, Chamberlain has his heart set on the Merseyside club and a £35 million transfer could well be on the cards.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Douglas Costa

The 26 year old Brazilian winger has gained plaudits for his performances at the German champions, yet the player stated earlier in the season that he is ‘not that happy’, presumably at missing out to Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben regularly. He would cost upwards of £25 million and have plenty of suitors, meaning Liverpool are simply one of many clubs he could choose from, although he did recently ‘like’ a tweet from a Liverpool fan about the possibility of him joining the club. There is also a chance that Costa is happy in Munich but is seeking an improved deal, which would come as no real surprise.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Ryan Sessegnon

Sessegnon is a long-term option at left-back for Liverpool with the 17-year-old lighting up the Championship with Fulham. With only Alberto Moreno, who is expected to leave, and James Milner available in that position, Klopp wants to bring in at least two. He faces competition from Manchester United and Tottenham though.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The most speculative target on the list is Gabon forward Aubameyang, who became a household name under Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund. Constant questions over his future are expected to culminate in a move this summer, and while his former boss will no doubt be interested, European giants Real Madrid are circling and thought to be his preferred destination. While the versatile Roberto Firmino has had a good season deployed as Liverpool’s first choice striker and Divock Origi a promising talent, they still lack a world class centre forward like Aubameyang. Dortmund CEO Hanz-Joachim Watzke stated earlier this year that the striker, who has three years to run on his contract, would only leave ‘for an outrageous fee’.

Liverpool summer transfer targets

Jonas Hector

A player Klopp will know well, the 26 year-old is thought to be a serious option with the manager unconvinced by Alberto Moreno. James Milner has deputised brilliantly this season but an out-and-out left back is a priority for the summer. Hector has earned 27 caps for Germany since 2014 and is known for his excellent positional understanding and for putting in accurate crosses. It is thought he would cost in excess of £20 million, which could be well worth it for a good player approaching his prime years.

"The Premier League is obviously a tough league and you need the energy to play week in, week out, but I think we have the squad to do that, so it doesn't mean that if you're in the Champions League you can't fight for the Premier League title,” he said. “Those two things can be combined.

"It's clear that it helps if you don't play in Europe, and you can focus yourself week in, week out, on the Premier League, freshen players up and play with the same squad every week.

"If you see how Leicester played last year, they played nearly every game with the same team. I think Chelsea are one of the sides with the least changes.

"These things obviously help, it's a demanding league, and everyone wants to play in it. But it is important because I think Liverpool's history shows they are fighting in the top of the Premier League and in Europe."

Mignolet has played a crucial role in Liverpool’s fight for the top-four, having kept a clean sheet in four of the side’s last five games.

Looking ahead to Sunday, the 29-year-old insisted everyone was “very hungry” to return to the Champions League.

"We've got the chance of getting in the Champions League, and everybody is very hungry for this in the dressing room,” he said. “Everybody wants to fight at the top stage.

"This year, particularly in the last few months, we learned to play against clubs that sit and defend, and play on the counter attack."

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