If a recent report from The Mirror is believed to be true, Liverpool are leading the race for teenage sensation Jude Bellingham over a potential summer transfer. The Birmingham City academy prodigy was roped in by Borussia Dortmund for an initial £25m fee and the German giants deployed him straightaway in the centre of the pitch.
Bellingham became a regular for his boyhood club at the age of 16 and had 44 senior appearances to his name before plying his trade in Germany since the summer of 2020. The 18-year-old has already featured 68 times for the Bundesliga heavyweights and his presence in midfield has added a new dimension to Dortmund’s game. So far he has fired in 3 times and laid on 9 more this season in 22 outings across competitions (stats via Transfermarket).
BVB made a significant financial profit from Jadon Sancho’s sale who joined Manchester United earlier during the summer window. A similar deal is being fancied for Bellingham who is valued at around £90m. Liverpool would negotiate to reduce the asking fee, but they must splash the cash to secure his services in due time.
Why Liverpool Must Tie Down Bellingham
The Reds, meanwhile, had a quiet summer compared to their fellow title contenders. The net spending has been significantly low in recent years and the time has arrived to inject freshness in an ageing squad. Skipper Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Thiago Alcantara are in their thirties, whereas the growing injury concern has depicted the necessity of reinforcements in the middle of the park.
Bellingham has represented England in various youth ranks before breaking into their senior side just over a year ago. Gareth Southgate, impressed with his maturity, composure as well as all-round midfield ability, made him regular for the Three Lions ahead of UEFA Euro 2020.
Apart from Henderson, Milner and Thiago, Liverpool are blessed to have Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott to run the show from a central role. While Fabinho is one of the finest ‘number 6’s the Reds ever had, the likes of Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain failed to grab momentum due to persistent fitness woes. Jones and Elliott are the rising stars, however, the enormous first-team experience of the highest order has helped the Dortmund starlet grow his game and flourish his skills.
The Merseysiders, nevertheless, are unlikely to have a free run for football’s potential NxGn superstar. Clubs are circling like vultures to snap him up and it is to be seen now whether Jurgen Klopp succeeds to raid his former club.
