Graeme Bailey has claimed that Jude Bellingham’s entourage are considering staying at Borussia Dortmund for another year.
The England international is the subject of intense interest from Europe’s top clubs, among whom Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp are known to be admirers, with a possible summer exit in 2023 being touted.
“He may stay another year at Dortmund, don’t rule it out, we have the preparation for Euro 2024 to be played in Germany, so that could be a factor,” the 90Min reporter told the Talking Transfers Podcast (via of HITC).
“If we look at the talent that Dortmund, Dembélé, Sancho and Haaland have left. Dembélé and Sancho found it difficult to adapt and the player who stayed for another year, Haaland, adapted quickly.
“The Bellingham field, they told me they’re looking at that too, I’m not saying it’s likely, but I wouldn’t rule it out.”
With a fee that could reach (and beyond, depending on what kind of World Cup campaign the 19-year-old has for England) £131.6m, some may prefer to see the midfielder spend another year at Germany and bet on the sale price plummeting in 2024.
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It’s a roll of the dice that most will no doubt be unprepared to take, particularly given that there are a handful of clubs out there with the finances more than capable of covering such a seismic price tag.
For Liverpool, we certainly shouldn’t rule out the possibility of our sporting director giving the go-ahead to a potential move, provided that Bellingham’s salary demands aren’t astronomical.
As a potentially generational midfielder, the teenager will have more than earned a potential pay rise, although he has to fit within our overall pay structure, should he wish to switch to Anfield.
We hope not only that the player is ready to make a leap next summer, but also that his demands are in line with what the club is prepared to offer, otherwise it will pose a serious dilemma for our selection team in terms of best way to improve the middle of the park.
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