Liverpool appear to have their sights set on landing another hot Borussia Dortmund starlet, Jude Bellingham, in the near future, with the young Englishman having repeatedly been linked with a move to Anfield in recent times.
A recent report from Football Insider has suggested that while the Bundesliga club will not sell the 19-year-old this summer, a switch to the Merseyside outfit could be in the offing in 12 months’ time – or even in January – with talks underway between the two sides.
The report suggests that the Reds are ‘confident’ that they will be able to sign the 15-cap sensation, with the potential for an agreement to be secured in the coming weeks ahead of the move happening later down the line.
The former Birmingham City gem – who made the bold decision to move to Germany in a £25m deal two years ago – has caught the attention of clubs across Europe following his hugely impressive and mature midfield displays in recent times, with it seemingly a matter of when and not if a ‘bigger club’ snaps him up.
Tipped to cost in the region of £101m on recent form the £49k-per-week million ace is likely to be worth every penny, having made such a stellar impact at Signal Iduna Park over the past two seasons.
In 91 games for Dortmund so far, the £72m-rated star has chipped in with 11 goals and 18 assists, with 20 of those goal contributions having come in what was a standout 2021/22 campaign.
Already described by team-mate Mats Hummels as “someone who leads the way”, the 6 foot 1 colossus has shown no signs of being overawed by the justified attention that he has been receiving of late, seemingly taking it all in his stride in a manner which belies his tender years.
The Stourbridge native has also already kicked off the new season in fine fashion with a goal in the recent DFB-Pokal over 1860 Munich, with the midfield “monster” – as dubbed by CBS Sports’ Ameer Tyree – likely to go from strength to strength this term.
While yet to play in the Premier League, there should be few concerns among those of a Liverpool persuasion about Bellingham’s ability to adjust to life in arguably Europe’s toughest league, having notably been compared to one of the division’s finest-ever midfielders in Patrick Vieira by former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
That is a comparison which will surely pique the interest of Jurgen Klopp and co, with Vieira having been a colossal figure in English football during his stellar nine-year spell with the Gunners, winning three league titles under compatriot Arsene Wenger and captaining the Gunners’ famed ‘Invincibles’ team.
Like Bellingham, the Frenchman was a commanding and physically imposing midfield presence but also had a keen eye for goal, having provided 31 goals and 34 assists in 307 top-flight games during his time in north London, as well as his brief stint at Manchester City.
An inductee of the Premier League’s Hall of Fame, there aren’t too many players who have made a greater impact on the division than the current Crystal Palace manager, hence the excitement that young Bellingham could potentially replicate him.
While it may not happen this summer, Klopp could well have a future icon on his lands if Liverpool are to sign the Vieira-esque teenager.