Jude Bellingham’s impending switch from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid has ‘disappointed’ Simon Jordan with the former Premier League owner believing that the England international was perfect for Liverpool.
Ahead of what is likely to be an extensive overhauling of Jurgen Klopp’s midfield options, it was difficult to think of a player better suited to becoming a posterboy of ‘Liverpool Mach 2′.
If you tasked a fleet of world-leading scientists to design a footballer perfectly-suited for Klopp’s unique brand of ‘heavy metal football’, the finished product would look a lot like Jude Bellingham; a face-melting soloist, a swaggering frontman and a rhythm-setting percussionist all at once.
“He’s a really good player. He is a really, really good player,” former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan tells talkSPORT (4 May, 11am).
“I am disappointed that all roads do not lead back to the UK. I would have loved to see him play for Liverpool. Not because I’ve got any particular overriding admiration for Liverpool, but i just think Liverpool as a competitive force have been so compelling over the last couple of years.
“I want to see them back to that level, because they were so exciting to watch. And I thought Bellingham would have helped them do that.”
Liverpool miss out on Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid
Liverpool, according to The Telegraph, dropped out of the race for Bellingham a few weeks ago due to the spiralling costs involved in taking the former Birmingham City wonderkid away from Bundesliga challengers Dortmund.
Reports suggest that Real Madrid expect to finalise a deal in the region of around £105 million. But, while the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and co are far more affordable by comparison, Jordan believes that – if Liverpool were serious about reuniting Bellingham with fellow England internationals Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold – they could have dug a little deeper.
“I don’t quite know why Liverpool cannot afford him,” Jordan adds. “I don’t know why Liverpool are choosing not to afford him. I’m assuming they can (meet his wage demands) because they are paying Mo Salah that.”
‘Illogical’
In Liverpool’s defence, perhaps they felt spending £100 million-plus on one player was more than a little reckless, given the extent of the rebuild required at Anfield over the coming months.
As former Reds favourite Danny Murphy points out, Klopp needs not just one new midfielder but a couple.
“(Signing Bellingham) would seem illogical really. It’s not how they tend to do things really; go out and buy a superstar for over £100 million,” Murphy argues on talkSPORT (12 April, 11am).
“I would prefer to see two or three come in for the price of one, if the ‘one’ is going to cost £120 – £130 million. There are lots of terrific players. And if your recruitment is good – if you know what you need and want – you can go and get it.
“If you’re talking £130 million, could you get Mason Mount and Declan Rice for that? Two for the price of one? I think you’d get them two for £100 – £120 million.
“I’m not saying Rice or Mount is better than Bellingham. But you’ve got two players who play different roles, and you’ve spent the same money.”
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