Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted he was only focused on the short-term future of goalkeeper Alisson Becker and that was getting him back into the team after injury.
The Brazil international has been sidelined for over a month with a hamstring injury - his second of the season - and this week was linked with Juventus, even though the club have taken the option to extend his expiring deal by 12 months.
Alisson's unavailability has become increasingly more of an issue and that has been thrown into sharp focus with Giorgi Mamardashvili ruled out by a gashed leg sustained in last week's Merseyside derby victory.
It means 29-year-old third-choice Freddie Woodman is set for his full Premier League debut for the club, having come off the bench against Everton.
"I am only focused on the short-term future and that is getting him back into goal as soon as possible," said Slot on the future of Alisson, who was "close" to a return, according to the head coach.
"All these rumours that are out there about him and about probably me and about others, we don't react to.
"We only react when facts need to be told and that is not the situation at the moment.
"The main focus for Ali is very clear, that is getting back in goal as soon as possible for the club he loves to play for and then he wants to be in goal for the country he wants to play for, that is Brazil.
"I think that is already the short and mid-term future."
Slot played down the number of injuries Alisson had sustained but there was no doubt his fitness record had deteriorated.
In his first five seasons at he missed a combined 19 Premier League and Champions League games - through either injury or illness - but in just under three campaigns since, he has been sidelined for 37 in both competitions.
"Of course we are looking at these kind of injuries he is having," added Slot.
"A muscle injury, you always try to prevent that with your training programme and schedule but he is not the only one.
"Football has changed so much. Everywhere you see muscle injuries more and more and we all know why - because of this crazy schedule we have to play.
"Maybe age plays a part but this week we saw one of the youngest players playing at an incredibly high level - Lamine Yamal - getting injured with a muscle injury as well.
"I would not put that down to age, I would put it more down to the schedule."
Liverpool have had more than their fair share of injuries this campaign but the Achilles problem sustained by Hugo Ekitike against Paris St Germain 10 days ago is set to rule him out well into next season.
"The surgery went well. That is the first and important step he had to make," said Slot of the France striker.
"It is going to take a long time and then it all depends on how rehab goes."
