Michael Owen has told Jude Bellingham that he must return to England and showcase his talents in the Premier League as he continues to be linked with various clubs across Europe.
Liverpool have made the 19-year-old their main transfer target, while Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United are also believed to be keeping an eye on the England international.
The dynamic midfielder has enjoyed a successful spell at Borussia Dortmund since leaving Birmingham City two years ago, but Owen believes his future lies in the English top flight.
“I think he has to go back to the Premier League,” Owen told the Daily Telegraph (via Football 365).
“He has done very well in Germany and made the decision to leave Birmingham when he was very young to have the opportunity to play. Dortmund have a huge asset in their hands.
“The Premier League is the biggest and best league in the world, it’s just a matter of which club can afford it. There aren’t many around because it’s a special, special talent. It’s going to be one of the best in the area.”
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Bellingham covers every blade of grass every time he plays, and his work rate in the middle of the park doesn’t go unnoticed.
Owen admits he wasn’t sure at first if the teenager was disciplined enough to be a central midfielder, but now he’s realized the Dortmund No. 22 makes the ‘difficult yards’ for the rest of his teammates and he is ‘in love’ with the young man.
“By that I mean he plays for the team, not for himself. It’s been almost too long and at first I thought, ‘My God, Jude, you’re wasting energy covering too much ground because of your inexperience.’
“I was wrong, the more I watch him, I love the way he plays. A lot of people when they get really good, it almost goes out of style to do the hard yards and things that don’t really get much praise.
“He is so focused, he does good things, runs very well and scores goals, but when players make a name for themselves, sometimes they save their energy for the big moments that grab the headlines.
“He does the things that coaches and teammates really notice. I hope you keep the hunger to do all the crap jobs so to speak. He works the nuts out of it. I have fallen in love with him.
Liverpool are expected to push hard to sign Bellingham at the end of the season, but there is also speculation that the Reds are considering signings for Moroccan Sofyan Amrabat and World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez.
Jurgen Klopp and company will be busy in the upcoming transfer windows as the German tactician looks to strengthen his current options to ensure we remain as competitive as possible for the foreseeable future.
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