Liverpool already have five players ‘similar’ to Jude Bellingham as triple £130m deal now makes sense

Add as preferred source on Google

When Liverpool decided not to sign Jude Bellingham last summer a mire of negativity and controversy transpired. But in hindsight, it’s a move that made sense.

Bellingham is a sensational player. However, he alone would not have been enough to fix the major surgery Jurgen Klopp needed to make to his midfield at the time.

Liverpool simply needed at least three or four midfielders at the time – which is exactly the number of midfielders Klopp ended-up signing. Sometimes, quantity is better, especially when you can maintain the same quality as well.

Liverpool have ‘five’ players similar to Bellingham

As the season has gone on, Liverpool’s decision not to pursue Bellingham has started to make more sense.

Alexis Mac Allister signed for £35m as per The Guardian, Dominik Szoboszlai signed for £60m as per Goal, and Ryan Gravenberch signed for £35m as per Sky Sports have all settled in brilliantly. Their combined total of £130m was just a little over that of Bellingham’s potential final fee to Real Madrid with add-ons which was £114m according to TNT.

To get three players of such quality almost for the price of one was a fantastic piece of business and absolutely made sense for Liverpool.

Now, as senior journalist James Martin, has pointed out on X (formerly Twitter) sport analytics website FBref may have further highlighted why Liverpool were right to pull out of that deal for Bellingham.

If you take a browse through FBref’s website, there is a section which lists the most similar players on every single players’ profile. For Jude Bellingham, the top four most similar players in terms of profile according to FBref are: Ryan Gravenberch, Harvey Elliott, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Meanwhile, Curtis Jones also ranks in the top 10 in eighth place.

With the oldest player on that list being Mac Allister who is only being 25-years-old, it suggests Liverpool are well stocked for the future. And have moved way past any pursuit for Bellingham.