Chris Sutton has hailed the ‘wonderful bravery’ of Liverpool transfer target Jude Bellingham following England’s 3-3 draw against Germany at Wembley on Monday night.
The 19-year-old produced a Man of the Match display, as Sutton urged Gareth Southgate to ‘build the team around’ one of the brightest talents in world football today.
England went into yesterday’s dead-rubber UEFA Nations League game under huge pressure because of past performances and results.
It didn’t help matters that they were 2-0 down with 20 minutes left on the clock, but that’s when Bellingham turned it on.
He drove the Three Lions forward, including winning a penalty, as Southgate watched his players claw back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2, only for Nick Pope’s mistake to allow Kai Havertz another goal.
Nonetheless, with the next stop being Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup, there was only one name on Sutton’s lips, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
“How good has Jude Bellingham been in this second half?” asked Sutton. “I really think, he has been the difference for England.
“His bravery in possession, to drive past players and make things happen. Got forward and pushed the Germans behind. He won the penalty. I mean Bellingham has to be nailed on to start in Qatar. I think he’s shown enough.
“Bellingham was a huge, huge positive once again – you have to build the team around him. He is that good.
“He is always looking forward. He doesn’t take the easy option. Bellingham has wonderful awareness. Wonderful bravery. When you have someone so young and talented, why wouldn’t you want to build your team around him?”
LIVERPOOL WILL HAVE A FIGHT ON THEIR HANDS FOR BELLINGHAM
It has been well-documented for a while that Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp are keen to add the Borussia Dortmund star to their ranks – it was even suggested they are favourites for his signature next summer.
Well, whatever happens with Bellingham, one thing is for sure, those in the Anfield boardroom are going to have a serious fight on their hands to secure his talents.
Bellingham is still a teenager and is years away from his peak, and even if he is purchased for a world-record transfer next summer, there is every chance that the team in question could sell him for a similar amount because he has at least 15 years in the game, which is pretty incredible given that he has been going for nearly five years already.
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