For the longest of time, the popular opinion has remained that the British record fee demanded by Borussia Dortmund for Jude Bellingham’s sale is Liverpool’s only obstacle in signing him.
With Fenway Sports Group (FSG) having a reputation of being overly frugal in the transfer market, many have remained sceptical about the Reds beating Manchester City’s record-breaking fee to sign Jack Grealish in order to complete a deal involving the 19-year old.
However, it is worth pondering over whether arguably the most sought-after youngster in the world would consider joining Liverpool as the dream move it perhaps was widely seen as last season.
After all, Jurgen Klopp’s men are in the midst of a nightmarish campaign, languishing at 9th in the Premier League table, with the German boss having already waved the white flag in the title race.
Furthermore, the club have shown little to no signs of having a plan in place to execute a rebuild under the legendary coach, with there being no replacements for players that look past their sell-by date such as James Milner and Jordan Henderson.
Barring Darwin Nunez’s blockbuster addition, Liverpool have also failed to address other priority positions, such as in midfield in particular.
With the Merseyside-based outfit lagging behind both on and off the pitch, the same cannot be said for the other European giants keen on signing Bellingham.
This particularly applies in the cases of Real Madrid and Manchester City, amongst the whole host of suitors for the in-demand midfielder.
Touching on Los Blancos, they refused to rest on their laurels, despite becoming European champions last season by signing Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco in a deal believed to be in excess of £85 million.
With Eduardo Camavinga signed in the summer of 2021, Carlo Ancelotti’s men seem to have a clear plan on overhauling their iconic midfield trio of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, with Jude Bellingham reported to be the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle.
A similar story applies in the case of City, who unofficially emerged as the victors of the summer transfer window, with the incredible addition of Erling Haaland in particular, as the club attempt to win their third Premier League title on the bounce.
As Bernardo Silva has been touted to depart the Etihad Stadium next summer, the Englishman, who is considered as a generational talent would join a side that remain favourites to win the English top-flight as well as the Champions League currently.
Compare how both superclubs are run in comparison to Liverpool and the contrast is stark, to put it kindly.
While Bellingham has developed into one of the most complete midfielders in the game at Dortmund, his trophy cabinet only has the DFB-Pokal to show for till now.
Keeping that in mind, it is imperative for the Birmingham-born gem to join a club that is currently on top and that have their sights set on asserting their dominance for years to come.
Can the same be said about Liverpool in any respect currently? The answer is a resounding no, which makes one question why Jude Bellingham would return to England to join a once-force to be reckoned with.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
