Paul Ince believes Liverpool target Jude Bellingham has the potential to become a “world-class player” and has compared the 19-year-old to Reds legend Steven Gerrard.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder is attracting a lot of interest from a number of clubs across Europe, including the FA Cup champions, with numerous reports suggesting the teenager is Jurgen Klopp’s main transfer target.
The former Birmingham City youngster has flourished since trading the Championship for the Bundesliga and Ince has explained what he ‘likes’ about English.
“I think the sky’s the limit for the kid,” the ex-Red told ICE36 Live Casino (via the Liverpool Echo). “I remember seeing him in Birmingham and I thought he was going to be a player. Going to Dortmund so young says a lot about his maturity and who he is as a person. I was interested to see how he managed that move, but ever since he got there he’s been one of Dortmund’s best players. Having played abroad for a big club myself, I know how difficult it can be to adjust; he normally takes a few months, but he seemed to have settled in right away.
“He will only get better and hopefully become a world class player. He still has a lot to learn and a long way to go, but the potential is huge. I like the way he plays, he can do everything in midfield, and that is something that is missing in modern football. He is a true box-to-box midfielder. He has all the attributes of a six, an eight, and a 10.
“These days most midfielders have a designated position and we haven’t seen many versatile players, the likes of Keane, Vieira or Gerrard in their prime, but Bellingham is one of them and it looks like he can do it all. He has everything in his locker, and that’s what I like about him.”
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Liverpool supporters are clamoring for the club to sign a new midfielder, either in January or at the end of the season, and Bellingham seems to have all the necessary attributes to succeed on Merseyside.
He has impressed with England during the World Cup group stage and will be eager to impress once again when the Three Lions take on Senegal in the round of 16 later today.
“I suppose one day he will play in the Premier League again, but at the moment he is playing a lot of games for Dortmund,” Ince added. “I think he is at the right club in terms of his development.
“I really enjoy watching him play. I’m really looking forward to seeing how they perform in the round of 16 against better teams. He will have to up his game and he will be under pressure, so it will be interesting to see how he copes, but he has overcome all the challenges that have been thrown at him.
Even though there is a lot of interest in signing the Dortmund No. 22 and the talented midfielder looks set to make a move to the Premier League, he may choose to continue his development in Germany for another 12 months.
He is valued in the region between £100m and £150m at the moment and it is clear that we will have to break our transfer record if we are to bring him to Anfield any time soon.
However, when you consider that he’s only 19 and has the potential to be a mainstay in our midfield for the next ten years, it’s a move that would certainly make sense.
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