Liverpool ‘worry’ about £130m Bellingham revealed after Klopp ‘declined’ move for Chelsea-bound forward
Liverpool reportedly want Jude Bellingham ‘above all’ but they are ‘worried’ that he may decide to join their rivals Manchester City.
The Reds are in the market for a new midfielder or two heading into next summer and it is common knowledge that they would love to recruit Bellingham.
The 19-year-old has been in stunning form for Borussia Dortmund and England over the past couple of seasons and he has already captained the German club on several occasions this season.
Bellingham progressed through the ranks at Birmingham City and it is possible that he will return to England later this year.
Dortmund were unwilling to let him leave last summer as they had already cashed in to let go of Erling Haaland. Instead, he is likely to move on during the next summer transfer window.
Clubs have been quoted around £130m for the midfielder as he is under contract until 2025.
Liverpool are understood to be among the clubs at the front of the queue to sign him but they face competition from the likes of Man City and Real Madrid.
The Telegraph are reporting that Liverpool are ‘up against every club richer than them in world football’ in the race for Bellingham.
Liverpool are hopeful that Bellingham and his family will believe that ‘Anfield is the best place for his development’.
The report notes that Bellingham has ‘never prioritised money’ but Liverpool’s ‘worry’ is that City ‘can make a better pitch’.
Man City will likely be able to offer a better financial package and they may benefit if Bellingham is keen to reunite with Haaland in England.
Liverpool have already signed one player this month as they have beaten Man Utd to acquire Cody Gakpo from PSV for a potential total fee of £44m.
The Telegraph note that Jurgen Klopp’s assistant – Pep Lijnders – ‘has a major part in key decisions’. It is claimed that three of Liverpool’s last four major signings (Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez) were all ‘advocated’ by the Dutch coach.
Lijnders and Klopp were seemingly not in favour of signing Christopher Nkunku as they ‘declined’ a move after the forward was ‘offered to Liverpool’.
Nkunku could have been a ‘long-term replacement for Roberto Firmino’ but Chelsea had ‘already struck an agreement’ to sign him by the time Liverpool started to endure their ‘new year injury crisis’.
Liverpool would like to sign a second midfielder along with Bellingham and they have ‘made a commitment’ to go back in for Wolves star Matheus Nunes.
The Reds were linked with him prior to his move to Wolves but ‘as things stand, a deal will be agreed for him to join in the summer’.
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