England international Kalvin Phillips has said he would start Liverpool target Jude Bellingham over Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Taking to a Three Lions press conference ahead of their World Cup quarter-final clash against France on Saturday, the Manchester City midfielder was asked to play a game of ‘Start/Bench/Sell’.
The reporter gave him arguably the three biggest young talents in all of football to choose from: those three being Bellingham, Haaland and Mbappe.
Despite Haaland being a teammate of his at the Sky Blues, the Yorkshireman selected the Borussia Dortmund prodigy as his starter.
“I’m going to have to say I’d start Jude,” Phillips said.
“Love Erling, but I reckon if he came off the bench, then he’s still getting a hat-trick anyway.
“And then sell Mbappe, because he’d probably get the most money, so.”
Phillips backs Bellingham over Haaland
With the three choices on the table, there was never going to be a correct answer that Phillips could give to that question.
Bellingham has certainly proved in recent seasons that he deserves to be up there with the very best.
Alongside Mbappe, the 19-year-old has been one of the standout performers at the World Cup.
Going off this, Phillips may even be correct with his assessment – particularly when their current ages are brought into it.
The Frenchman is four years older than the Englishman, whereas Haaland is also three years his senior.
When comparing these two to Bellingham at his age, the midfielder has a strong case to come out as the top prospect, having been hailed as ‘sensational’ by Anfield favourite Daniel Sturridge.
Jurgen Klopp certainly agrees, as he is desperately trying to convince the BVB youngster to make the switch to Anfield next summer.
With rumours circulating that the Reds are leading the race, Liverpool’s recruitment staff must be doing something right, with the likes of Real Madrid and Man City also in the battle to secure his signature.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
