Rafael Benitez has told Liverpool to forget about signing Jamaal Lascelles.
Reports in the North East have claimed that the Reds are eyeing the Newcastle United defender with Jurgen Klopp keen to bolster his current back line options.
Lascelles has established himself as a first-team mainstay for the Championship side since originally moving from Nottingham Forest in 2014.
Chelsea have also been credited with a possible move for the 23-year-old, who was previously targeted by Everton prior to moving to St James Park.
But Benitez warned his former club and other suitors that Lascelles will be one of several players staying put at Newcastle in the January transfer window.
He said: “I saw the links about Jamaal.
“But I have been talking with him and with more people around him.
“He’s happy, he’s OK and we think that he’s a good player for us, so I don’t see any big change in January around him, or anyone really.”