Don Hutchison reacts after seeing ‘incredible’ Liverpool transfer rumour today

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Former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison simply can’t believe his old club are passing up the chance to sign Jude Bellingham this summer.

Bellingham is set to sign for Real Madrid after Liverpool pulled out of the race last month. The reasons given for the Reds’ withdrawal were mainly related to the cost of signing the Borussia Dortmund man. Well, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter this morning, the fee is now set to be a relatively modest £86.9m.

Liverpool news account Anfield Watch relayed this development, which Hutchison posted on his own account, clearly furious with his former club.

“Incredible really,” wrote the 52-year-old. “Sell 2/3 players or offer in exchange and the price would have been even lower. It’s Madness from Liverpool not to be in the race.”

With the eventual price more or less what the Reds paid for Darwin Nunez last summer, it’s difficult not to agree with Don.

Liverpool miss out on Bellingham bargain

Of course, Liverpool’s reasons for pulling out may not have all been to do with price. But the line given was that due to the funds needed to be put towards a wider squad rebuild, Bellingham was no longer affordable.

Had the 19-year-old cost the £130m being reported earlier in the year, then that would be fair enough. But for less than £87m? It’s still somewhat understandable but much, much less so.

Another contributing factor to Liverpool moving on was said to be that they had no intention of being pulled into a bidding war. With signings needed to be be brought in as soon as possible, they couldn’t afford to have a question mark hanging over a huge part of their budget.

Again, fair enough. But hang on, Bellingham’s next destination is already decided and the season is yet to end. Had Liverpool hung in there, they’d likely already know exactly what money was going where before the window even opened.

So, adding all of this up, we have to come to the conclusion that Bellingham simply picked Real Madrid.

It isn’t the first time Liverpool have been trumped by the Spanish giants recently and perhaps it won’t be the last. But this one is going to sting, that’s for sure.

With Bellingham reportedly set to sign a deal until 2029, he’ll be turning twenty-six by the time that runs out. Perhaps that might be when he sets his sights on a return to England after what will be almost a full decade away. If he does, frankly, we’re not interested.