Dortmund are ranked seventh in the UEFA club coefficient rankings, while Liverpool -- who have qualified for the Champions League only once in the past seven seasons -- are in 34th.

Liverpool appointed former Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp as manager in October 2015, with Watzke adamant that he is the right man to bring consistent success back to Anfield.

He told SportBild: "We are way ahead in sporting terms right now. It's not for nothing that we are seventh in the UEFA ranking.

"But I have no doubt that Jurgen Klopp can lead Liverpool to its old strength if he's allowed to work calmly."

In the summer, Liverpool made an approach for BVB's Christian Pulisic, while Klopp met Ousmane Dembele for talks about a move before he eventually opted to switch to Dortmund.

And Watzke said clubs could forget about signing Dortmund's young stars, adding: "Those who have tried soon realised it's a waste of time."