Jurgen Klopp believes that the signing of Jude Bellingham could be a ‘transformative’ one for Liverpool.
Bellingham has been reported as being the Reds top transfer target for a while now. According to The Times this morning, that remains the case.
They report that the Borussia Dortmund midfielder remains ‘the apple of Klopp’s eye’ in terms of midfield additions. It’s claimed that the Liverpool manager thinks Bellingham can close the gap to sides like Real Madrid ‘overnight.’
With Madrid said to be one of the 19-year-old’s ‘other suitors,’ the Reds clearly have a fight on their hands here. But with Klopp reportedly keen to share his vision for Bellingham at Liverpool with the player himself, there remains a good deal of hope.
The eventual fee for the England international is claimed to be potentially ‘eye-watering.’ However, The Times report that Liverpool will have money to spend this summer without the need to sell players first.
Bellingham in need of supporting cast
Judging from what we saw against Madrid’s elite midfield last night, it will take more than just Bellingham to haul Liverpool back from the dead.
Fabinho looks to have reverted to type following an encouraging uptick in form recently. Meanwhile James Milner is no more an answer than playing Klopp himself in midfield next season.
Clearly, this was not Liverpool’s first-choice midfield. Far from it. But the fact remains that it’s going to take more than one player to fix things.
Others may argue against that. Bellingham has been labelled as all kinds of superlatives over the years since his breakout – ‘frightening’ being the latest, courtesy of Jermain Defoe. If one man alone can save the Reds – it would seem to be him.
But there’s simply too much surgery required for one scalpel to handle. No matter the quality. Liverpool need to build a midfield for the next three years at the very least. By the time Klopp’s current deal runs out in 2026, you’d expect Thiago Alcantara, Milner, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to all have left the club.
Jordan Henderson may still be around but his role should be vastly reduced at the age of thirty-six. So, the rebuild has to start now and it has to start with two or three. Bellingham may be good enough to transform things to a degree, but he’ll need a supporting cast. Liverpool simply can’t afford to get this wrong now.