Jude Bellingham is currently favouring a move to Liverpool over joining Manchester City.
Bellingham is being courted by both clubs – and Real Madrid – ahead of a blockbuster summer transfer. But according to The Athletic this morning, Liverpool are the clear favourite right now.
There are different reasons for that. Bellingham is said to be a ‘huge admirer’ of Reds boss Jurgen Klopp for one.
Besides that though, the main explanation behind his preference is reportedly to do with playing style. Citing ‘some in the industry’ as sources, The Athletic report that the 19-year-old feels he would be a better stylistic fit under Klopp.
Bellingham is claimed to favour a style where midfielders drive forward rather than move sideways. As a result, the England international can supposedly see himself more in Klopp’s midfield than Pep Guardiola’s.
Despite this, City are still claimed to be ‘interested’ in bringing Bellingham to the Etihad Stadium. So too are Real, although those at the top of the Spanish club are said to have surprisingly declared themselves as having ‘almost no chance’ in the race.
The ultimate Jurgen Klopp midfielder
There’s no question that Bellingham would be a great fit for Liverpool in terms of playing style.
With the Reds’ midfield in disarray this season, he’s exactly the kind of player Klopp has been missing. All-action and capable of getting forward and back in equal measure, you can see exactly where he’d slot in.
Of course, he could definitely do a similar job at City, too. Although Pep likes his team to keep the ball much more than Klopp, you could envisage Bellingham playing the ‘Kevin De Bruyne’ role in that side. He’s more than good enough to fit any style of play.
But this is where Bellingham differs from most other players out there. He isn’t going to join a club to simply fit around his environment. The teenager wants to meticulously find the right environment to match his playing style and personality.
In those terms, Anfield surely ticks every single box. The only reason Liverpool have to be nervous is if City engage them in a bidding war. Should the Reds not be able to match what the Premier League champions are offering, Bellingham may not have too much choice.
For plenty of reasons though, the stars seem to have aligned to allow Bellingham to move to Anfield this summer. The timing is more than ideal. He’d be a perfect fit – the ultimate Jurgen Klopp midfielder.