Hoffenheim star Christoph Baumgartner is flattered by reported interest from Liverpool but insists that he’s not looking to join a Premier League giant during the current transfer window, as he told Sport1.
Six years after raiding the Sinsheim-based outfit for a fresh-faced Bobby Firmino, it has been suggested that Jurgen Klopp will return to a familiar hunting ground in search of another dynamic young attacker with the world at his feet.
According to Kicker, Liverpool discussed the prospect of signing 21-year-old Baumgartner before the European Championships kicked off in June.
The Austria international didn’t exactly set the tournament alight, however, despite scoring the winning goal in a group-stage victory over Ukraine.
While Firmino arrived at Anfield with four Bundesliga seasons under his belt, there is a feeling that Baumgartner has a lot to learn before he follows in the Brazilian’s footsteps.
Will Christoph Baumgartner turn down Liverpool and Manchester United?
And Baumgartner took the opportunity to set out his stance, with the club’s Bundesliga opener against Augsburg just over a fortnight away.
“It is of course better if there are positive rumours instead of negative ones. But I feel very comfortable here and can develop well here,” Baumgartner said when asked about reported interest from Liverpool and Manchester United.
“In football, you can never say 1000 per cent what will happens within a few months. But I am very happy here and see a great opportunity here to develop myself and the team.
“Last year, I slipped into a role that I really like and that I can use to develop personally. I want to hold on to that and want to keep stepping on the gas with the team so that we can play a good season and attack again at the top.”
Baumgartner scored six goals and provided a further three assists in 2020/21.
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