Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool news: Klopp running risky Bellingham strategy after two enormous transfer hurdles emerge

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham

Two heavyweight suitors including one from within the Premier League could leave Jurgen Klopp empty-handed over Jude Bellingham, per a report.

The Reds acted quickly to complete a trio of signings this summer. Fabio Carvalho arrived from Fulham in a deal that had its roots in the January window. Calvin Ramsay signed from Aberdeen and is one for the future at right-back. Their major business regarded Darwin Nunez who could set the club’s new transfer record at £85m pending add-ons.

Central midfield was an area that wasn’t addressed despite many of their key performers now the wrong side of 30.

Indeed, Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson are 31 and 32 respectively. Depth piece James Milner is 36.

Jurgen Klopp can call upon an abundance of options in the middle like title rivals Man City can. However, that has not stopped Pep Guardiola moving for Kalvin Phillips to replace Fernandinho.

Reports have suggested Liverpool and Klopp and prepared to wait until 2023 before refreshing their midfield. Their primary target looks destined to be Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.

A move for the English ace will have to wait until next summer. Dortmund have already lost a bona fide superstar in Erling Haaland and won’t sell a second in the same summer.

Klopp is a known admirer of the 18-year-old, though a report from Spanish outlet AS suggests Liverpool’s apparent decision to wait could backfire.

Heavyweight suitors queueing up

They claim Bellingham has been identified as the heir to Luka Modric and has been chosen for transfer by the Real Madrid higher-ups.

Clouding the issue further is the claim Chelsea will also bid for Bellingham next summer.

This will all be welcome news to Dortmund given Bellingham does not hold a release clause in his contract. Dortmund have already let it be known the bidding must start at €100m (£86m). A three-way bidding war could see the price skyrocket above the £100m mark.

Liverpool’s owners have shown they’re wiling to go big for the right player. Bellingham undoubtedly fits that bill, though FSG operate with their heads, not their heart.

Bellingham worth waiting for?

Banking on securing a Bellingham deal next summer is fraught with risk. However, Liverpool have a prime example in their ranks of why that approach can be fruitful.

The Reds tried and failed to sign Virgil van Dijk in the summer window of 2017. After their efforts were repelled by Southampton, Liverpool opted against signing an alternative and instead waited until January before wrapping up a move.

That proved an inspired decision with Van Dijk going on to become one of the world’s top centre-backs at Anfield.

Despite being just 18, Bellingham would represent something of a guarantee of success as Van Dijk did. He already had over 100 senior league appearances to his name and is a veteran of several Champions League campaigns.

His interviews suggest he is mature for his age and but for the excellent Declan Rice-Kalvin Phillips tandem, he’d already be a guaranteed starter for England.

If any midfielder is worth waiting for, it’s Jude Bellingham.