Former Premier League footballer Jermain Defoe has been amazed by what he’s seen from Borussia Dortmund midfielder and Liverpool target Jude Bellingham.
Speaking in an interview with Sports Mole, the now-Tottenham youth coach suggested the 19-year-old could reach the level of Reds legend Steven Gerrard – but claimed he still has a long way to go yet.
“I hope so. I’m not going to say that he can be in that bracket now, because I think what Lamps and Stevie did, that’s unique. We’re talking about some of the greatest players to play the game,” said Defoe.
“Frank Lampard scoring 20 goals from midfield for six consecutive seasons I think it was – that’s a special player. And Steven Gerrard, what can I say about Stevie? One of the best players I played with – had everything. I’m trying to think if he had a weakness, I don’t think he had a weakness. He had everything. Could pass, could run, could tackle, could score, could head, could do everything – aggressive, could lead. He had everything. We’re talking about two of the greatest.
“I would like to think that he could get to that level and we saw it in the World Cup how good he is. He’s so young, and he’s just like a man – it’s frightening. How good he’ll become, who knows? He might even be better, we don’t know, but just let the boy develop, let him enjoy his football, but the way he’s going, the sky’s the limit because he is a special talent.”
Defoe full of praise for Bellingham
As Defoe says, it’s easy to get carried away with Bellingham.
As a player, his ceiling is yet to be discovered; thus, the sky really is the limit.
However, it’s incredibly important to release some of the expectations held over the 19-year-old.
The Dortmund star will be in for a big change once he leaves the Bundesliga club.
If he decides to join Liverpool, he will have a whole fanbase behind him. The pressure on the teenager will be huge, especially given his reported £130m price-tag.
Therefore, Bellingham should be left to develop and enjoy his career at the top level. Then we’ll get to see just how good he really is.