Liverpool are reportedly confident of beating Manchester United and Manchester City to Borussia Dortmund sensation Jude Bellingham.
According to The Sun, Premier League giants Liverpool are confident of beating off competition from arch-rivals Manchester United and Manchester City to English midfielder Jude Bellingham.
The 18-year-old is already a regular for Borussia Dortmund and is making waves with his performances in the Bundesliga. Having played at the senior level for the Germans and Birmingham City, Bellingham is an experienced player who can perform from the word go.
Already a full-fledged English international, the youngster stands an excellent chance of making Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Given the trajectory his career has taken so far, it will not come as a surprise if his stock continues to grow in the coming months.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is a fan of the player and is keeping close tabs on his progress. The German’s relationship with Dortmund could also help negotiations between the two clubs should it reach that stage.
The Reds have a world-class squad at their disposal, but the midfield is not getting any younger. James Milner is 36, while Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are in their thirties. Fabinho cannot play every game, whereas Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott need to sharpen their skills to become regulars for Liverpool.
Bringing in Bellingham would future-proof the department, handing Liverpool a long-term solution to their requirement. He can replace Henderson and go on to play a similarly pivotal role at Anfield in the years to come.
Both Manchester United and Manchester City are also keen on signing the 18-year-old, but the Reds remain optimistic about their chances. Manchester United are no longer the pre-eminent force in English football, and a move to Old Trafford is admittedly a step backwards. Erik ten Hag will be looking to usher in a new era, but the Dutchman has a long and difficult road ahead of him.
Manchester City could also do with a midfielder and have agreed on a deal for Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips. This could see them take a backseat when it comes to pursuing Bellingham, handing the initiative to Liverpool.
Dortmund are not keen to sell their star man this summer, but it has not deterred Liverpool from planning for the 2023 summer transfer window. The Reds have earmarked Bellingham as a priority and might choose to go big to land their man. The Merseyside giants have shown in the past that they are not averse to paying what it takes to land their first-choice players.
Also Read: Three potential Paul Pogba replacements for Manchester United
Liverpool have silently gone about assembling their next great time one piece at a time. The arrivals of Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Ibrahima Konate, Fabio Carvalho and Darwin Nunez add to a young roster that already consists of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jones, Elliott and Joe Gomez among others. Adding Bellingham to that mix will certainly lay the foundations for another era of dominance.