West Ham United’s Declan Rice has given a glowing review of reported Liverpool transfer target Jude Bellingham.
In quotes from The Telegraph, Rice waxed lyrical about Bellingham, amid claims that Liverpool are trying to sign him.
“Even little things, as a 19 year-old you’re scared to talk to the referee but he’s in the referee’s face demanding answers, demanding decisions and he leaves himself on the pitch constantly. He’s 19 but he’s got the body of a 28-year-old, he’s a man. He thinks like a man, plays like a man and shows personality and character,” said the West Ham captain.
“You can see it when he plays for Dortmund, how he gets around the pitch. He’s the future of English football to come for the next 15 years if he wants to be. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone as good as he is for 19. I look at a lot of 19 year-olds, whether it’s at a club, around the world, around the country, to have the whole package it’s a hard thing to have and I feel like he’s got that.
“He can play in a holding role, he can play as an eight, he can play as 10. He can play anywhere in midfield, and I know he’s going to be crucial for us [England].”
A perfect partnership for Liverpool?
Rice and Bellingham have looked like a promising midfield pairing for England over the last two games.
Yes, the Three Lions couldn’t get a win against either Italy or Germany, but the two were amongst the better performers.
Obviously, that’s noteworthy for Liverpool as they attempt to snare Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.
According to The Telegraph earlier this month, the Reds are currently leading the race for the 19-year-old. As Rice’s comments show, he’s one of the most highly regarded young players in the game. His capture would be a major coup for Liverpool.
But it’s also worth pointing out that despite intense speculation in recent years, Rice himself is still awaiting a big move of his own.
As Liverpool hunt for the right solution to their midfield problem, they’re soon going to need several new faces.
Should they manage to bring Bellingham to Anfield, perhaps targeting Rice could be their next move. Given the fees previously mentioned for both players, that may seem like a ludicrous idea.
But come this summer, the 23-year-old will have just a year left on his deal. There is an option of another year on top which will surely be triggered. West Ham may finally have to come to the table, though. If the Reds could somehow bring in both players, they’d have their midfield sorted for the foreseeable future.
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