Liverpool transfer news: Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic won't rule out January move

Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in the January transfer window, amid reported interest from Liverpool. Subotic, 26, was a regular first-team player under Jurgen Klopp but following Thomas Tuchel's arrival at the club in the summer he has slipped down the pecking order.

The new manager has preferred for Sokratis Papastathopoulos to partner Mats Hummels at the heart of defence. The Serbia international did return to the Dortmund starting XI on 5 December as they beat Wolfsburg 2-1, but the result has done little to quell speculation over his future at the club.

Speaking to Kicker, Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc said: "We have a couple of games until the winter break and then we will sit down and discuss the situation."

The Independent report Klopp is keen to reunite with his former players and Subotic has suggested he could choose to leave, insisting a brief return to the first-team does not mean his problems have been solved.

"It is not like one match catapults you from the bottom to the top," Subotic told reporters. "I'd like that, but the reality looks different. I would love to play and fight all the time. I can't do any more."

Since taking over at Liverpool, Klopp has been linked with moves for a number of his former players including Subotic, Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus. The German coach has not ruled out the possibility of plundering the Bundesliga side in the January transfer window, insisting there is no accord with his former employers that prevents him from moving for his former players.

"There is no agreement with Borussia Dortmund," the Liverpool manager said, according to the Daily Express. "I heard as well that there was one – these sort of things are always written at the time but, no it's not true.

"I have a good relationship with Borussia Dortmund and a good relationship with all the players there – there is nothing negative between us. So there could be a possibility – if we need a player then we could try. At this moment there is nothing to talk about.

"But there is no agreement that we can't do business with Dortmund. There's also no agreement that we can't sell players to Dortmund! We only want to do something if we feel it is necessary or there is an opportunity where we cannot say no. Or our situation changes in a way where we have to take players in. This decision isn't for today or tomorrow, but we are always preparing for the moment. That's what we have to do."