Paul Merson has waxed lyrical about the ability of reported Liverpool transfer target Jude Bellingham.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, Merson praised the 18-year-old for his all-round ability at such a young age.
“I think everybody will (be interested in Bellingham), I think the kid is phenomenal. At his age, his composure and always wanting the ball. There’s not a lot that he can’t do,” said the pundit.
“The way he burst forward, he reminds me of Patrick Vieira and he gets across the pitch very quickly. He has got everything.”
Merson also commended the maturity in Bellingham’s game. For all of this, the former Arsenal midfielder thinks Bellingham will be able to ‘pick’ his next club.
“For a young kid, he plays like he’s a 30-years-old head on his shoulders. That’s some going in football. It’s so hard, trust me, playing international football. He plays it like he is playing with his mates in the park. I think he is a very special player – he will be able to pick who he wants to play for,” he said.
Let’s hope he picks Liverpool, Mers!
A saga set to rumble on
Bellingham has long been reported as being a player who could well end up at Anfield.
In December, The Mirror reported that Liverpool were ‘leading the race’ to sign the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
More recently, Bild journalist Sebastian Kolsberger spoke to BernabeuDigitial just last week to claim that Liverpool have the advantage in the transfer saga.
The transfer would be a big one. Given the player’s youthful years, it has been reported that Liverpool may have to wait until 2023 to bring Bellingham to Merseyside (Sport Bild).
This one could rumble on for a while yet.
Mature beyond his years
Merson’s claim that Bellingham plays like a 30-year-old is something that has been echoed by his England teammates.
Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson has previously spoken of Bellingham as a mature presence. Jack Grealish then followed suit during the last international break.
As a manager who places personality as a big deciding factor in who he brings to the club, Jurgen Klopp will like what he hears in that respect.
If The Reds truly are plotting a move for the Birmingham born youngster, you can bet that Klopp has been asking his captain for regular reports on how Bellingham trains and behaves off the pitch.
The teenager has years of development ahead of him. But he already looks like future captain material for somebody. If reports are to believed, there looks to be every chance that that could be at Liverpool.
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