Liverpool midfield transfer: Klopp told why he must sign ‘brilliant’ Prem ace as Bellingham alternative, with ‘spectacular’ goals cited
A two-time Premier League champion has told Jurgen Klopp which midfield signing he must make for Liverpool this summer after the Jude Bellingham chase came to a halt.
On Tuesday, it emerged that Liverpool would no longer try to sign the Borussia Dortmund star in the summer transfer window. He is simply too expensive for them to bring in.
Dortmund have set Bellingham’s price tag at around £120million. Liverpool chiefs do not believe they will be able to sign him as well as another midfielder, while also improving different parts of the team.
Plus, Liverpool are wary of getting into a bidding war. Rich and powerful clubs such as Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are also pursuing Bellingham.
Liverpool believe they can get two midfielders in during the next transfer window without having to break the bank. Their options include Brighton ace Alexis Mac Allister, Matheus Nunes of Wolves and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Florian Neuhaus.
However, former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson, who helped the Red Devils win consecutive league titles in 1993 and 1994, has a different player in mind. He thinks Klopp should prioritise a move for Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans before going after another midfield signing as well.
The Daily Mail state that Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Man Utd are all interested in Tielemans. And during an interview with the newspaper, Robson said: “An absolutely brilliant free transfer. Has Premier League and international experience, you rarely see him have a bad game. Gets some decent goals which are often spectacular and is a good athlete.”
If Liverpool are looking for cheap but high-quality players to improve their midfield, then Tielemans fits the bill perfectly.
Liverpool have decision to make on Youri Tielemans
He has run down his Leicester contract which means he can leave for free this summer, as Robson states. This means Liverpool will able to capture a player previously rated at £50million for no transfer fee.
Tielemans has proven himself to be one of the best midfielders in the Prem during his time at Leicester. He excels at shooting from range and long passes, while also being happy to get involved defensively.
At 25 years old, he would provide some much-needed energy to Liverpool’s ageing and lethargic midfield. Plus, Liverpool would be able to get plenty of years of service out of the Belgian before seeing any kind of decline.
The only trouble is that Tielemans wants a big wage when leaving the King Power. Transfer insider Graeme Bailey has told TEAMtalk that Arsenal are moving away from signing Tielemans after being put off by his salary demands.
The player wants to go straight into the top bracket of earners at the Emirates, but Gunners sporting director Edu is not willing to give him such money.
Due to this, a move for Tielemans may not actually be as cheap as it seems on the surface. Liverpool officials must now decide whether the Leicester man is worth it, or if they are going to chase someone else like Mac Allister.
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano states that Liverpool are ‘monitoring’ a Ligue 1 sensation.
