Three Players Liverpool Must Sign After Jude Bellingham Blow
It’s an open secret that Liverpool need to bolster their midfield in the summer, but the Reds probably won’t be signing Jude Bellingham.
The Reds have been heavily linked with a move for Bellingham as reported by SportsBuffer, with Jurgen Klopp thought to be a keen admirer of the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
The 19-year-old has excelled for both club and country, and the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid are vying for his signature.
It is always going to be difficult for Liverpool to lure the England international – who has a contract at the German club until 2025 – without Champions League football (they are unlikely to finish in the top four) and it seems they’ve given up on him.
David Ornstein reported for The Athletic (20 March) that there is no release clause in Bellingham’s deal, and Dortmund have no obligation to sell either.
Now, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has shared on Twitter (11 April) that the Reds have cooled their interest in Bellingham. His package is worth more than £130m, and Liverpool won’t bid for him under current conditions.
Romano says that Liverpool will still sign two to three midfielders, and that’s obvious. The likes of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are set to leave at the end of the season, while veteran James Milner could also bid farewell.
Curtis Jones has failed to fulfill his potential while Fabinho has hugely underperformed this season. When you add Thiago’s injury and Jordan Henderson’s decline due to age, it becomes pretty clear that a midfield revamp is required.
Three midfielders who Liverpool could sign
Alexis Mac Allister
If the Reds feel the price quoted for Bellingham is beyond their budget, it implies they won’t be able to strike a deal for Moises Caicedo either. He has a contract at Brighton until 2027 and would cost over £100m easily.
However, his teammate could be available at a reasonable (£60-70m) price. The 24-year-old midfielder is a World Cup winner with Argentina and several top clubs including Liverpool are keen to land him, as per CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs.
He has a contract at Brighton until 2025 (option of extending for another year), but a potential summer exit cannot be ruled out. Capable of performing various roles in midfield, he has enjoyed a fantastic 2022-23 campaign so far, managing eight goals and an assist in 25 Premier League games thus far.
James Maddison
Leicester are almost resigned to losing their star playmaker in the summer window even if they manage to avoid the drop.
Since joining from Norwich City in 2018, Maddison has become one of the key players for the Foxes. Known for his creativity, ability to pick passes, and set-piece deliveries he could become an important player under Klopp.
Recent reports suggest that the Reds have made contact with the player’s camp over a summer move. The Foxes are open to letting him go and they could do business for around £50m, which should be within Liverpool’s budget.
Matheus Nunes
Wolves paid £42.2 million for the Brazilian-born Portuguese midfielder who has shown his class in the Premier League, and now Liverpool want to bring him to Anfield.
The 24-year-old has progressed at a rapid rate in recent years, and he possesses admirable qualities. He is extremely good at doing basic things that you normally expect from any central midfielder, but he does it at a high level.
His control, vision, first touch, and passing abilities are top-notch. He has got bundles of energy and can carry the ball forward. He is aggressive and at the same time helps out defensively.
Missing out on Bellingham is a big blow to the club’s ambition, but they can still forge a strong midfield unit by landing two or three quality Premier League midfielders.