Chris Sutton has written in The Daily Mail that Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will not be able to sign Jude Bellingham if they do not finish in the top four of the Premier League table this season.
The former Chelsea striker believes that Bellingham would not want to move to Liverpool if they were not in the UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool have been linked with a move for the 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund and England international midfielder in the summer of 2023.
According to GiveMeSport, Liverpool and Manchester City want to sign Bellingham.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has told the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), to bid €150 million (£132 million) for Bellingham, according to journalist Tomas Gonzalez-Martin in El Debate.
Real Madrid are also reportedly interested in Bellingham.
Chris Sutton on Jude Bellingham and Liverpool
Sutton wrote: “What would give Liverpool more of an advantage is if they finish in a Champions League spot. That’s a must.
“Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson might be besties but Bellingham doesn’t want to play for a club in the Europa League. He wants to be among the elite.
“Liverpool have regressed a little, whereas this 19-year-old wants to go to a club that is moving forward.
“That makes the rest of this season huge for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool if they want to win the race for Bellingham.”
Could a transfer happen?
In our view, if Liverpool are to sign Jude Bellingham next summer, then they simply have to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Dortmund regularly compete for the Bundesliga and play in Europe’s premier club competition, and Bellingham will surely not want to settle for anything less if he moves to a new club.
With Real Madrid and Manchester City also keen on Bellingham, there is no shortage of suitors for the teenager.
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