Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips has urged Liverpool to try and sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland over RB Leipzig hitman Timo Werner.

Liverpool were close to completing a deal for Werner before the coronavirus outbreak disrupted their plans.

Jurgen Klopp is mulling over whether to add the Germany international to his squad this summer now he will be under even tighter financial restrictions.

Werner took his goals tally up to 30 in 38 appearances this season by netting a hat-trick in Leipzig’s 5-0 thrashing of Mainz on Sunday.

But Phillips thinks Liverpool should instead focus all of their efforts in trying to capture Dortmund’s 19-year-old sensation Haaland.

“If they are chasing him that would be very encouraging to hear,” Phillips told Football Insider about Werner.

“It will be for quite a fair bit of money but he looks like a class player.

“Liverpool are at that point now where they have got to aim for the best and he is certainly one of those.

“If they cannot go and get Haaland, who they should go for, whilst Werner is not in the same league he is a very good player if they could get him on board.

“It will be very encouraging for Jurgen Klopp to hear the player wants to go to the club and that club only.”

If the Reds are to add another attacker to their ranks at the end of the season it will most lively be for Werner.

“I know that Liverpool is the best team at the moment in the world,” the 24-year-old told ViaSport.

“When you’re linked with that team it makes me very proud.

“It’s a pleasure but I know in Liverpool plays a lot of good players and I have to improve myself to learn many more things to get on that level, to play there.”