Ex-Liverpool striker and pundit Stan Collymore has said that Jurgen Klopp’s side should launch a ‘chunky bid’ for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.
This comes after the Reds midfield was exposed badly against Manchester United in the 2-1 defeat last night.
Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford gave United an eventually unassailable two-goal lead which Mohamed Salah halved, and it has led to questions ahead of the rest of the transfer window.
Liverpool have Naby Keita, Thiago, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out with injuries, leaving only Fabinho, James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho fit to fill the three midfield slots.
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The Reds are long-term admirers of Bellingham, and were previously looking to bring him in next summer, but many want the club to move for him now, including Collymore.
The ex-Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa forward has said that owners Fenway Sports Group should go to BVB and ‘test their resolve’, despite the club selling a huge asset in Erling Haaland already this window.
“Go and get Bellingham now. Test Dortmund's resolve with a chunky bid and get him in,” he posted on Twitter.
“It's not just City that Liverpool have to worry about. North London is more settled and Chelsea will keep spending.
“Make a statement, open the FSG vault and get some youthful dynamism in there.”
Bellingham is one of the most desirable players in world football at the current moment, having played over 100 senior matches before his 19th birthday and displaying elite leadership at such a young age.
He’s been capped 15 times by England already and is expected to play a huge role at the World Cup this winter.
A bid from Liverpool would likely break the English transfer record if they do go for him, with some murmurs speaking about a deal that could be worth over £100m, according to reports from Germany.
Clubs will be aware that Liverpool definitively need a midfielder, though - and prices will skyrocket, Bellingham or not.
A move next summer is still likely, and this is probably just a plea of desperation.
Topics: Liverpool, Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours, Jude Bellingham
Chris Stonadge