If a report from the Telegraph‘s Jason Burt is believed to be true, Liverpool ‘appear to be losing ground’ for their long-term transfer target Jude Bellingham. The 19-year-old Three Lions sensation is grabbing the limelight for his mastery in the middle of the park, but the Reds might fail to land him next summer with Manchester City and Real Madrid keeping close eyes on his progress donning Borussia Dortmund colours.
The youngster is contracted until the summer of 2025 and the German giants are expected to demand more than £100m for his suitors. City are blessed to spend millions for their financial supremacy over any other European heavyweights, whereas Real Madrid have potentially identified him as 37-year-old Luka Modric’s natural heir. The Englishman would be lined up alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga to form a midfield of next-gen superstars.
Despite persistent injury problems, Liverpool decided not to invest in the centre of the pitch. They rather chose to wait for the former Birmingham City prodigy who was not for sale in the summer and the growing fitness woes within the squad saw them loaning in Arthur Melo from Juventus late in the window.
The Brazil international, who struggled to stay fit in recent months, proved to be a catastrophic business! Days after his debut against Napoli as a late substitute, the midfielder hurt his left thigh during a training session which has now sidelined him for months following a successful surgery.
Why It Would Be A Massive Blow For Liverpool
If we consider the current options, there is not a single player who could be trusted in midfield week in, week out. Thiago Alcantara has been a class above the rest, but his presence is limited due to various injury setbacks including a freak ear infection that ruled him out against Nottingham Forest. Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have hardly been able to enjoy a run of games, and both of them are now facing uncertainties with their contracts set to expire by the closure of the current campaign.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho are on a decline, particularly the Selecao international who has lost his composure completely while operating as a ‘number 6′. It is unfair to expect a masterclass from 37-year-old James Milner twice a week, also the young academy graduate Curtis Jones has failed so far to grab his opportunities.
The lack of ambition and investment from the owners have jeopardized the Merseysiders’ ‘top four’ hopes. This would further complicate a summer swoop for Bellingham as the midfield ace must be aiming for greater glory if he returns to England or plies his trade to Spain in the forthcoming future.
