Liverpool dealt double Bellingham blow with one of two damning reports claiming it’s game over for Klopp

Two separate reports have poured cold water on Liverpool’s chances of signing Jude Bellingham, with one going so far as to claim their chase has ended.

The one area Liverpool desperately require an overhaul is no secret. Central midfield has long been crying out for fresh faces, with loanee Arthur Melo the Reds’ only new addition in the position since Thiago arrived two-and-a-half years ago. Harvey Elliott has been deployed in a deeper role at times, though was initially signed as a winger.

Jude Bellingham is widely understood to be the club’s top target. The 19-year-old is already one of world football’s best players – irrespective of either age or position.

Borussia Dortmund are expected to cash in next summer and the £100m barrier will surely be breached. Liverpool have been laying the groundwork for a transfer in 2023 for some time, though fierce competition is expected from Man City and Real Madrid.

When the prospect of a Bellingham arrival next month was brought up in a press conference on Friday, Jurgen Klopp kept his cards close to his chest.

“In January? I’m the wrong person to answer that, you will have to ask other people about that,” said Klopp.

The German added: “January, in our situation, is a window from a sports side we are always prepared, it’s always clear what kind of ideas we have or how the necessity is from our point of view.”

Dortmund are highly unlikely to sever ties with their most influential player mid-season. Instead, all eyes will be on how his transfer saga unfolds over the summer.

However, a pair of damning reports from a Liverpool perspective have called into question whether the Reds will – or even still intend to – sign Jude Bellingham.

Liverpool turn attention elsewhere?

Firstly, Spanish outlet AS worryingly claim Liverpool see the battle to sign Bellingham as ‘so complicated’ that they’ve decided to ‘get off the horse in the middle of the race’. In other words, AS are claiming Liverpool are no longer a credible contender to sign Bellingham.

Exactly why Liverpool have apparently reached that conclusion isn’t stated. The issue of price could be front and centre, with the report going on to claim Klopp has shifted his gaze to two other additions instead.

Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez and Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat are both namechecked. Like Bellingham, the pair both shone at the World Cup for Argentina and Morocco respectively.

Amrabat can reportedly be snared for around £35m. Fernandez holds a whopping €120million (approx. £105m) release clause in his deal, though common ground could be made for a fee lower than that figure.

AS add Real Madrid is Bellingham’s preferred destination anyway. The Sun see things differently when touting a different suitor, though it still makes grim reading for the Reds.

Man City reckon they’ll land Bellingham

They report it’s Man City who are growing increasingly confident of snapping up Bellingham.

The newspaper claim their sources at the Etihad reckon the lure of reuniting with Erling Haaland and playing for Pep Guardiola will prove too strong.

Guardiola recently signed a new contract that’s extended his stay in Manchester until 2025. While Klopp has done similar at Liverpool (until 2026), Pep’s deal has at least ensured there’ll be continuity at City and Bellingham will know who his manager would be for at least two-plus seasons.

Furthermore, City can also out-gun Liverpool financially in both the transfer fee and salary departments.

It’s also claimed Bellingham will prioritise football reasons when deciding his next move. While that statement could be taken in a variety of ways, it cannot be argued Man City represent the best chance of lifting regular silverware when compared to all other English clubs.

While it cannot be said either report on Bellingham is conclusive, neither make good reading for Liverpool.

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