Jude Bellingham looks unlikely to move to Anfield this summer. most demoralizing season. Until now.
By stepping aside to let others compete for Jude Bellingham, Liverpool have been forced to issue a humiliating statement about their current position. Unable to compete on the pitch with rivals from the Premier League and the Champions League in 2023, they were forced to admit how far behind they were.
Liverpool abandoned what was in danger becomes the saga of Bellingham for several reasons.
Firstly, they are not sure if the England midfielder will leave Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
Secondly, they are even less certain that Anfield will be his first choice given the purchasing power of those who want to buy him. Jurgen Klopp had no inclination to wait for the outcome of a bidding war when alternatives could be found cheaper and faster.
Third and most importantly, Liverpool currently cannot afford to buy Bellingham and finance the rest part of their summer expenses, even if he calls Klopp and starts singing «You will never walk alone» on the phone.
At Anfield, they understand how negatively this revelation will be perceived. Indeed, Klopp alluded to this last week when he suggested that some people «wouldn't be happy» with what the club was doing in the summer, though at the time few expected him to approve of leaving Bellingham.
It is understandable that when the Liverpool manager is asked about the decision he will make sure to make ahead of his side's next Premier League game against Leeds United, he will highlight how hands-on and prepared he is for the club's transfer strategy. Obviously he can't control how much he can spend, but no one has more influence when it comes to determining how to spend what he has.
Klopp has been forced to reassess what the team needs after a dismal campaign. Last summer, he may have imagined a scenario in which Bellingham would be the perfect addition to a fully functional, title-challenging, Champions League-ready team. Instead, he needs to restructure with at least four top-notch, expensive additions. This is not possible if his entire budget is allocated to one player.
Jurgen Klopp is believed to be on board at Liverpool. #39; transfer strategy. Photo: Reuters/Phil Noble. hopes soared to such heights that it was as if the club were aiming for another title rather than the player's signature.
The more impressive Bellingham was in the Dortmund and England shirt, the more his valuation rose and the more inconsistent the summer deal with Fenway Sports Group's ownership model looked.
Throughout the season, there were indications that Liverpool worried about how much the teenager would cost. This was written in black and white when FSG announced it was seeking investment. But even if a minority partner is inevitable, the methodology will not change.
The success of the club under Klopp is based on the idea of identifying and hiring young players before they become expensive superstars. Essentially, Liverpool needed to buy Bellingham when he could be worth £10m in Birmingham, and no more than £100m in Dortmund.
The anomalies, of course, lie in the deals of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, who at the time held world records for centre-back and goalkeeper. An extensive list of other expensive signings could be made, but in every case, they could be departure-paying fees, from Philippe Coutinho in 2017 to Sadio Mane in 2022. Liverpool sold the same way they bought under Klopp.
Those hoping to splurge on Bellingham in the summer believed the money had been set aside for an expensive, ready midfielder that Liverpool had needed since last summer. Indeed, when Klopp spent over £35m on Kodi Gakpo in January, it seemed incredible that he was doing so at the cost of missing out on his favorite summer goal.
Klopp has also spoken so enthusiastically about Bellingham that it's hard to believe he gave up on the idea of coaching him without deep thought and significant regrets. If there is a glimmer of hope for those who are still hopeful that he will end up at Anfield, perhaps Bellingham will decide to stay in the Bundesliga for another season, which will open up the possibility for him to become more approachable at a later stage. However, given the resources of his other fans, this looks doubtful.
There will be increased pressure for Klopp and Liverpool to sign top quality alternatives. Chelsea duo Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher are definitely targets. Moises Caicedo from Brighton too. Ryan Gravenberch of Bayern Munich also fits the FSG model.
Wait for Klopp to announce there is more than one midfielder in the world.
The counterargument is that this was the case last time . summer too. Instead, Liverpool made what now looks like a disastrous transfer mistake, waiting for someone they really wanted but could never be sure they would get.
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