Craig Burley says if Jude Bellingham had a choice then he would pick Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United over Liverpool during the summer transfer window.
It has been well-documented that Jurgen Klopp is an admirer of the 19-year-old midfielder, who he probably needed at Liverpool last summer, right now and when the window re-opens again.
The big issue facing those on Merseyside is that they are in a big spot of bother in the Premier League this season.
Whilst their bitter rivals have every chance of securing Champions League football next season, it’s now looking like a tall order for those at Anfield.
Prior to their clash against Leeds United on Wednesday night, ten Hag’s men are sitting third in the table on 42 points, three points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham and a further 13 clear of Liverpool.
All the signs suggest that Champions League football will be booked by ten Hag in his first season in the Old Trafford dugout, whilst Klopp will miss out, as a result, former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley thinks Bellingham would only head towards one direction if he had a choice between the two clubs, as he told ESPN.
“You can save this one for the tape,” said Burley. “He’s not going to Liverpool, is he Bellingham?!
“Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t have a say in who Real Madrid buys. Florentino Perez will just go out and buy whoever he wants to buy.
“Why don’t you add Manchester United to that list (of teams Bellingham could sign for alongside Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid)? At the moment, you would go to Manchester United, wouldn’t you?! If Jude Bellingham has no links to Liverpool. Why wouldn’t you?
“I am not suggesting over Real Madrid. I am suggesting over Manchester United.”
BELLINGHAM’S PRICE TAG
Prior to the World Cup, there would have been a certain price tag on Bellingham’s heads.
But, since the winter tournament in Qatar, the price for the England international has probably sky-rocketed.
Not just because the all-action star performed at a top level on football’s biggest stage, but because of the crazy transfers that have gone around him.
This already-inflated transfer market now has Chelsea inflation added to it, as a result, those in the Dortmund boardroom will surely use that to boost Bellingham’s price if the elite comes knocking.
Does that bode well for either Liverpool or Manchester United? The answer is probably no because their respective owners aren’t exactly pushing the boat out from a financial perspective.
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