Stephen Warnock thinks Liverpool could be better off pushing to sign Chelsea transfer targets Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice, rather than Jude Bellingham.
The former Liverpool left-back thinks the Premier League duo, thriving at Brighton and West Ham United respectively, can be purchased for the ‘price of Bellingham’.
That might be wishful thinking given the noise around those players and how they are perceived by the elite teams across Europe.
All three players are a hot topic of discussion in the transfer market, both this month, and ahead of the summer window if they don’t move.
Liverpool have been long-admirers of Bellingham, but if you want to sign the 19-year-old, then club-record transfers won’t have to be broken, but smashed.
Equally, with Rice searching for Champions League football, he could be out of the door at West Ham in the summer, with Arsenal keen, but so could Caicedo of Brighton, with big-spending Chelsea wanting to sign him.
Nonetheless, with a number of top clubs looking for that all-action midfielder, Warnock shared his thoughts on Liverpool’s situation, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
“It’s interesting when you speak about Jude Bellingham,” said Warnock. “Everyone thinks Bellingham would fit Liverpool and be the solution.
“Or whether it’s you go for two players for the price of Bellingham, i.e. a Declan Rice and a Caicedo. And would that be a better fit for Liverpool longer-term?
“He (Rice) was £100 million last season and he has come down to £80 million this season.”
JUST PUSH FOR BELLINGHAM
It’s wishful thinking if anyone thinks Liverpool could sign Rice and Caicedo for the price of Bellingham.
The Dortmund teenager might fetch the highest transfer fee from the trio, but if you want to sign those players, then it will burn a hole in your pocket.
Now, if you are Chelsea, then burn away because FFP seemingly doesn’t exist for them.
Either way, secure Champions League football first before talking because that could just make or break Liverpool and Chelsea’s summer window.
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