Former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson believes Jude Bellingham should snub a move to Manchester United in favour of the Reds.
In an interview with Daily Express, former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson feels Jude Bellingham should ignore Manchester United and don the Reds’ jersey if he does arrive in the Premier League in near future.
Bellingham has emerged as the most interesting English prospect alongside Declan Rice, with the two English internationals are destined for a big-money move next summer. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has progressed very well in Germany in the last couple of years, and clubs would be coming in with loads of money to lure the youngster to their respective sides.
Manchester United have retained an interest in the player, and the Red Devils will be keeping a tab on how the situation unfolds. But the Red Devils need to beat bitter rivals Liverpool to land the teenage prodigy.
Jurgen Klopp is believed to be an avid admirer of the player, and the Reds will certainly fight for his service as the Merseysiders are set to lose a chunk of their midfield contingent next summer and the 19-year-old remains a priority for them. But recent reports have claimed that Liverpool might move on from Bellingham.
Phil Thompson has now insisted Bellingham should be careful while choosing the right football club, asking him to snub Manchester United. The former Liverpool defender said, “He’s been outstanding. I think he’s a player who only comes along once in a while.”
“Somebody so young but somebody so experienced. And I think that’s from the last couple of years playing regularly at Dortmund, which he might not have got the game time in the Premier League. I think he has progressed to becoming an all-round midfielder. I think he’s the sort of man who can see where he wants to play his football, at the right football club.”
On being asked why Liverpool should be the right destination for him, the ex-Liverpool defender answered, “I would have to say yes. You look at when we signed Virgil van Dijk, Virgil could have gone to City, he could have gone to Arsenal, he could have gone to Manchester United, but he chose Liverpool above them because it was the right club for him.”
“And I think agents get involved and it’s the highest bidder and who will give the most money – you’d like to think some agents are looking, along with the player and sitting down with the family as well, and thinking ‘what is our next best move for his career?’ Because at his age, he’s got a long time in the game and he will get a lot of money wherever he goes.”
It will be a pretty interesting battle next summer when a plethora of clubs will be knocking on the door of Borussia Dortmund. And it remains to be seen where Bellingham will ply his trade in the 2022/23 season.
