Jude Bellingham may still elect to join Liverpool, even without Champions League football.
At least, that is what Valentina Maceri of Bild claimed on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Maceri revealed that Bellingham has a major soft spot for Liverpool.
She also intimated that failure to qualify for the Champions League this season might not spell the end of the Reds’ interest in the £124 million-rated Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
She told Sky Sports News: “Bellingham would love to play for Liverpool but there is the money issue – he won’t be cheap. He could be €140-150m and there’s still Real Madrid and Manchester City in the race. They have a lot more money than Liverpool. At the moment, Liverpool aren’t going to qualify for the Champions League – this is a big point that has to be considered as well. I still think Bellingham would like to play for Liverpool, that’s my gut.”
Real Madrid are a genuine threat.
For instance, earlier this week it was reported by Sky Germany that the Spanish giants would be offering some £80 million and Eduardo Camavinga in exchange for Bellingham.
That is one heck of a proposal and one that Liverpool may struggle to match, in terms of attractiveness.
Maceri is right in saying that the Reds cannot fire with fire against City and Real in terms of finances.
But even a player-plus-cash arrangement is off the table too if that’s what Los Blancos are coming with.
In any case, it’s a massive positive that Bellingham is so enamoured with Liverpool because, right now, his affection for the club is what is keeping them in the race.
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