Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has compared talk of big-money transfers with a five-year-old asking for a Ferrari for Christmas.
Despite being heavily linked with a move, the Reds will not pursue signing England midfielder Jude Bellingham because of the money involved.
Any move for the 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund player could cost in excess of £100m.
“We cannot have six players in a summer, everyone for £100m,” he said.
The German added: “We are not children; when you ask a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they say a Ferrari, you wouldn’t say ‘oh, that’s a good idea’.
“You would say ‘no, that is too expensive and anyway, you cannot drive it’. If this kid is then unhappy their whole life because he cannot get a Ferrari, it would be a really sad life.
“You look what you can do, and you work with that.
“What we need and what we want, we try absolutely everything to get it, but there are moments when you have to accept that this or that is not possible for us – you step aside and do different stuff.”
Liverpool will have Luis Diaz available when they face Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday (20:00 BST).
The Reds, eighth in the table, have won just one of their past five Premier League games.
Klopp says he expects Leeds to come out fighting, particularly after the “proper knock” they faced in Sunday’s 5-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace.
“We expect them to be on their toes, proper atmosphere,” said Klopp.
“We have to build on two games with good moments. We will try to do that. We have nothing to lose, we have to try new things; everything is on the table. I’m looking forward to the game. Leeds will go with all they have. It will never be an easy game.”
Robertson incident ‘dealt with really well’
On Thursday, the Football Association said it would not be taking any further action against assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis over an incident involving Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson during Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
Hatzidakis had been stood down while an investigation was held, after he made contact with Robertson’s chin when the player approached him at the end of the first half at Anfield.
“I think it has been dealt with really well,” said Klopp.
“I wasn’t aware of it during the game; I spoke to Robbo and the other guys, not the assistant, but now we can carry on.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool have been fined £37,500 after players surrounded referee Simon Hooper during their 4-1 defeat by Manchester City on 1 April.
A number of players protested that City midfielder Rodri should have had a second yellow card – and so been sent off – for a trip on Cody Gakpo.
