Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes Liverpool will struggle to sign Jude Bellingham amid competition from Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Speaking on the Kelly and Wrighty show, as relayed by Liverpool Echo, Ian Wright has claimed that Liverpool should focus on qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season if they want to sign players like Jude Bellingham. The English international is also a target for Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Wright, a bonafide Premier League legend, said, “The problem is that Bellingham has the pick of the greatest at the moment. How do you sell Liverpool to him? You’re going to need other players alongside him so you can say we’re going to get back to this.”
“How are you going to be able to entice him against a City who can say, ‘look who we have got’, and Real Madrid who can say, ‘look who we have got’. Liverpool are now in a very precarious position, which is why I want Liverpool to just focus on getting the top four.”
The 19-year-old has been constantly linked with a move to Anfield over the past year. But recent reports have claimed that the England international is valued at £130 million. While the Reds will have to break their transfer record to sign the highly coveted central midfielder, getting the deal done will require much more than just financial resources.
Bellingham is a world-class talent, and a player of his calibre will want to join a club at the highest level. With the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City in the transfer chase, Liverpool might find it difficult to convince him to move to Anfield.
The Reds are going through a difficult phase right now, and they are currently languishing in the mid-table positions. It remains to be seen whether Liverpool can get their season back on track and secure a top-four finish.
Attracting players like Bellingham without Champions League football is unthinkable, and Liverpool might have to move on to alternate targets if they fail to make it to the top four. Currently, it seems Arsenal, Manchester City, and Tottenham are better placed to finish in the top three. Liverpool will have to compete with Chelsea and Manchester United for the fourth place.
The Reds have had multiple injury problems this season, and key players like Mohamed Salah have been struggling to hit top form. It remains to be seen whether Klopp decides to dip into the January transfer market to reinforce his squad and turn things around during the second half of the season.
