On the eve of Liverpool’s pre-season tour of Asia in July, Jurgen Klopp was asked about ongoing speculation linking Jude Bellingham with a move to Anfield.
“He’s not on the market, so that’s the first problem with that player. Actually, it’s the only problem with this player,” he smiled.
Klopp is a huge admirer of the Borussia Dortmund midfielder but signing Bellingham this summer was never a realistic proposition for Liverpool. Having already lost prolific striker Erling Haaland to Manchester City, the German Bundesliga club had no intention of selling another one of their prized assets.
The landscape will be different next summer, however. Bellingham will have two years remaining on his contract, as things stand, and if that is the case, Dortmund’s resolve to keep him is set to be severely tested.
Liverpool will certainly be in the mix but competition for English football’s most exciting young talent is set to be fierce. Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all retain a strong interest.
City boss Pep Guardiola, for example, described Bellingham as “exceptional” after he delivered a commanding performance in last week’s 2-1
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