Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is ‘obsessed’ with Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, according to reports.
Not only does Klopp want to sign him, but the German has even made personal calls to the 19-year-old, Spanish publication Nacional have claimed.
The Dortmund man has commanded the interest of Europe’s elite since his arrival in Germany.
At his tender age he has already made 134 senior appearances, with 90 of those at the top level with Dortmund.
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The Reds boss has even spoken about his admiration for Bellingham to the press, too.
“He’s not on the market, so that’s the first problem with that player,” Klopp told members of the written press in a sit-down interview at Kirkby before the squad flew to Asia for pre-season.
“Well, that’s the only problem with that player!”
It’s thought that Bellingham would be available next summer for around £85m.
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That would make him the second most expensive English player of all time, behind Jack Grealish and just ahead of Harry Maguire.
His seniority is such that he has already played 15 times for his country before turning 20.
All signs point to Jude for the Reds, whose need for a midfielder next summer will be amplified due to the prospective exits of James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Bellingham would be the ideal midfielder though, and Football Insider have reported that the Reds are set to try and secure his signature for next season in a pre-agreement deal, much like they did for Naby Keita from RB Leipzig.
Topics: Liverpool, Jude Bellingham, Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours
Chris Stonadge