Liverpool fans are understandably getting more and more excited about the summer window as we head into the second half of the campaign with Jude Bellingham’s future closer to being decided.
Rio Ferdinand has certainly given supporters more reason to salivate at the prospect of the 19-year-old – who remains a ‘main target’ – in his club’s midfield after claiming he was making more of a name for himself at his age than the likes. of various Premier League legends, including Reds hero Steven Gerrard.
“What he is doing in his position at his age, we haven’t seen,” the pundit told BT Sport (via Anfield Watch).
“The best of our generation, Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes, those guys… Viera, Roy Keane, they weren’t doing this.
“He still has to go ahead and prove it over a long period of time, but they weren’t doing what he’s doing now, influencing games at this level, captaining a team at this level, he’s the complete package. Mentally this kid is a beast, there’s no question about him.”
The Merseysiders will be joined by more than half of Europe’s top sides in the hunt for the England international in 2023, with Jurgen Klopp’s men hoping to avoid a repeat of Aurelien Tchouameni’s failed move.
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That’s quite a statement given the caliber of the players mentioned, though perhaps it doesn’t sound so far-fetched in light of the surprising nature of the teenager’s achievements already in the German top flight.
There is no doubt that the abundance of minutes has been an integral reason behind why Bellingham have prospered internationally and domestically and it is hard to imagine the same rapid pace of development had he been reduced to opportunities off the bench at an English club. .
None will be more disappointed than Borussia Dortmund if the midfielder looks for new pastures next summer, perhaps only Liverpool, if we fail to win the race for his signature.
#Ep61 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Keita in a weight change for Bellingham? Manic October… and more!
