Craig Hignett has claimed the transfer of Jude Bellingham to Liverpool is ‘almost a cert’ as speculation grows around the 18-year-old’s future.
A team retiring a teenager’s shirt number after his departure is usually unheard of. But Birmingham City did exactly that when Jude Bellingham left the club to join Borussia Dortmund in 2020, where he has established himself as one of the finest midfielders of his age.
His performances and growing stature have made big clubs in the Premier League take notice and possibly plot a move for the midfielder shortly. As per reports, Dortmund’s demands are pretty steep, narrowing the list of clubs who could realistically pay for his transfer.
Liverpool are widely tipped as the favourites to sign the teenager, probably next summer. Recently, Bundesliga expert Kevin Hatchard explained why the Reds might spend huge sums of money on the Dortmund midfielder. He gave examples of the Virgil van Dijk and Allison Becker transfers, suggesting it’s a pattern under Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp certainly likes the player, who has already featured in the England side under Gareth Southgate multiple times. His influence in the Dortmund side has certainly helped his rise in stature, with the youngster slowly becoming one of the club’s most important players.
While he certainly looks like a player who could be gracing the Premier League sooner rather than later, experts believe, next summer could be when he may return to England.
Former Middlesbrough midfielder Craig Hignett is more than convinced of this transfer transpiring, claiming ‘it’s almost a cert’ that Bellingham will sign for Liverpool. Hignett told BBC Radio Merseyside via Birmingham Live that the Dortmund teenager will be on Merseyside soon.
Hignett said, “I think I’ve heard it on good authority and I can’t say where I’ve heard it from, but apparently he has been saying that he is Liverpool bound, Whether that is January or whether that is the end of the season isn’t sure yet, but I think, I have it on good authority that it is almost a cert.”
Liverpool lost Georginio Wijnaldum last summer but did not sign a replacement. While Naby Keita has stepped up, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has not been a regular. In addition, the likes of Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and James Milner are not getting any younger either. So, a move for someone like Bellingham could pay off handsomely for the Reds.