Jurgen Klopp and Ilkay Gundogan
Ilkay Gundogan has turned down the chance to be reunited with Jurgen Klopp Getty Images

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has handed Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp his first blow in the transfer market, stating he is "very comfortable" with life at the Westfalenstadion. The Germany international spent four years with Klopp at Dortmund but remains happy four months on from the exit of the charismatic 48-year-old.

Gundogan moved to Dortmund in the summer of 2011 after brief spells at VfL Bochum and FC Nurnberg. The 24-year-old played a key role in the club winning the German league and cup double in his first season, before scoring a penalty in the agonising Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich the following season.

A back injury saw Gundogan miss almost the whole of the 2013-14 campaign, including the World Cup finals in Brazil, but having returning to full fitness he has featured in all nine of Dortmund's Bundesliga fixtures so far this season. Italian website Calciomercato.com reported upon the arrival of Klopp at Liverpool that the German boss would be interested in making the player his first signing at Anfield, however Gundogan has no interest in abandoning Dortmund.

"This is an issue that is always floating around," he said of the rumours regarding Liverpool, according to Goal.com. "I am very happy with BVB and feel very comfortable here. Of course, I can imagine remaining here beyond the end of the season."

The rumours regarding Gundogan started less than a week after Klopp was confirmed as Liverpool's new manager, succeeding Brendan Rodgers after three years on Merseyside. There is a perception that Klopp could raid his former club, who he left at the end of the 2014-15 season, in order to strengthen the Reds in upcoming transfer windows, but Dortmund says such a move would damage his reputation.

"Jurgen would never do anything that would damage BVB's interests," chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke told Bild am Sonntag, according to Goal.com. "I am 100% certain about that. He would never approach any players behind our back. We are simply too close for things like that to happen. We have been through too much together."

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