Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will have no chance of signing Borussia Dortmund’s England international Jude Bellingham if they miss out on UEFA Champions League qualification, Anfield legend Steve McMahon tells talkSPORT (22 December, 2pm).
Then again, write off the Reds at your peril.
Just 18 months ago, Liverpool somehow managed to claw their way to an impressive third-place finish despite enduring the sort of injury crisis that would have crippled many a club; Alisson Becker’s infamous last-gasp header against West Brom typifying their never-say-die spirit.
The six-time European champions may have to show similar levels of desire and bouncebackability in the New Year; two places and seven points separating Liverpool from Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur in the top four.
And, according to McMahon, a seat at Europe’s top table is not the only thing Klopp risks missing out on if Liverpool end up finishing outside the Champions League spots.
Liverpool hope to sign Borussia Dortmund’s England international Jude Bellingham
“That one is in the balance isn’t it,” McMahon, a First Division champion in 1986, 1988 and 1990, said when quizzed about Liverpool’s Bellingham interest.
“It probably depends on whether Liverpool qualify for the Champions League. He’s not going to go if they’re not in the Champions League.”
According to The Sun, La Liga champions Real Madrid are ‘increasingly confident’ that Bellingham will be strutting his stuff at the Santiago Bernabau in 2023. Liverpool are not going to give up without a fight, however; an £85 million-rated midfield dynamo labelled ‘exceptional’ by Pep Guardiola their number one transfer target (The Athletic).
“He looks great,” McMahon adds of Bellingham. “Composed. Mentally, he’s got it. He plays in World Cups and in England games. He’s got talent; everything you’d want in a midfield player. No wonder there’s many, many suitors.”
Bellingham, still only 19 years of age, is also on the radar of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. The former Birmingham City wonderkid has ten goals to his name for Dortmund and England this term.
“I was impressed when he was 17. Imagine (what I think about him) now that he’s 19!” Guardiola said a couple of months ago. “He grew up so (much). Defensively, he’s able to follow (Ilkay) Gundogan or Kevin (De Bruyne) in the pockets and win the duels.
“So he’s an exceptional player. I think everyone knows it. Not because the manager of Manchester City is going to tell you. Everybody knows it.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
