Liverpool 'draw up seven-man shortlist' after abandoning Jude Bellingham transfer pursuit
Liverpool have compiled a ‘seven-man shortlist’ for midfield alternatives after abandoning their plans to sign Jude Bellingham in the summer window, according to stunning reports.
Bellingham is one of Europe’s fastest-rising stars and impressed for Borussia Dortmund this season and for England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Liverpool were among the elite European clubs which were heavily linked with a big-money move for the 19-year-old Dortmund midfielder at the end of the season.
According to reports, the Reds were ready to make a mammoth £84m offer to Dortmund in a bid to sign Bellingham ahead of their European rivals.
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However, it has since emerged that Liverpool have ended their pursuit of Bellingham due to the hefty transfer fee that the Premier League club would need to pay Dortmund.
Bellingham is under contract with Dortmund until 2025 and the German club are expected to want a transfer fee that could be in excess of £100m.
Liverpool ditching their plans to sign Bellingham has opened the door for other European clubs to sign him, with Manchester United and Real Madrid heavily linked.
According to The Times, the Reds have switched their interest away from Bellingham and are eyeing up several targets in a bid to revamp Jurgen Klopp’s fragile midfield.
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is believed to be a top target for Liverpool amid uncertainty surrounding his future at Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old England international is out of contract in 2024 and talks over a new deal for Mount have stalled.
Mount’s Chelsea teammate Conor Gallagher is also linked with Liverpool and the Blues could offload him in the summer after their wave of new signings.
Brighton duo Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo were also named on Liverpool’s shortlist, as well as Wolves’ Matheus Nunes was identified as another target.
Youri Tielemans is out of contract with Leicester City in the summer and attracted interest from Premier League clubs like United and Newcastle.
The 25-year-old Belgian midfielder has now emerged on Liverpool’s radar as a potential summer target due to him being a free agent at the end of the season.
Ryan Gravenberch is the only name on Liverpool’s seven-man shortlist who is not currently playing in the Premier League.
The 20-year-old Dutch midfielder has struggled for regular first-team minutes at Bayern Munich this season after leaving Ajax last summer.
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Topics: Jude Bellingham, Liverpool, Premier League, England, Football, Borussia Dortmund, Germany, Bundesliga
Adnan Riaz