Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel is convinced he will have a "powerful squad" next season, amid speculation of key players departing the club this summer.
A quartet of Dortmund players -- Marcel Schmelzer, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan -- are all under contract until 2017 and have yet to sign new deals.
In recent weeks, there has been speculation that Ilkay Gundogan will leave the Westfalenstadion this summer to join Manchester City.
Mats Hummels, meanwhile, has also been linked with an exit, having discussed his future in a Sky Deutschland interview and explained that the decision he still has to make has left him struggling to sleep.
The interview sparked speculation that he could return to former club Bayern Munich, while his father has said he is open to a move to a number of sides including the Bavarians and City.
Dortmund coach Tuchel, however, played down his player's comments during a news conference on Friday.
"It's his right to answer to questions," he said. "It's his right to say he does not want to comment on it. And if somebody answers those questions as open-heartedly as he did, that's totally fine. I think it's very pleasant. He has the standing to do it."
Schmelzer and Mkhitaryan have kept quiet about their plans, while reports have suggested Dortmund have a good chance of securing the pair's services beyond 2017.
When asked whether the departure of one key player could lead to the exit of another, Tuchel insisted that Dortmund will remain a force to be reckoned with next season.
"Whatever will be, will be," he said. "We won't change it when we start philosophising about it. And we won't change it when we surrender because players might leave. The decision is down to the players, also in line with the club, since they are all under contract.
"I have already said in the past and I will say again that I am convinced we'll have a powerful squad next season."
Bayern midfielder Mario Gotze has been linked with a return to Dortmund in recent weeks, but Tuchel refused to answer questions about the Germany international's future.