Liverpool have been warned that their prospects of signing Jude Bellingham are slipping through their fingers, as talk of a suprise swap deal with Real Madrid begin to gain traction.
Jurgen Klopp has made no secret of his wish to strengthen the Reds’ engine room during 2023. Indeed, the club needs a bit of a mini rebuild in that department with up to three names departing Anfield this year.
The first departure may even only be days away amid claims a Premier League rival is plotting a cheeky swoop for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
He will also likely be followed out the door by Naby Keita, who is also out of contract this summer. And speculation is mounting that evergreen James Milner, now 37, may finally be departing Anfield come the end of the current campaign.
Down the line, Klopp has his eyes on two huge summer arrivals to give Liverpool fresh impetus in their engine room.
Bellingham is widely reported as their No 1 target. And while he will cost as much as £120m, Liverpool are very much expected to be in the running for his signature.
Indeed, a promiment BILD TV presenter has explained why she believes Bellingham is destined to move to Anfield.
As well as Bellingham, Paul Joyce of The Times has also revealed the identity of their second top target. Both deals, however, will remain on hold until the summer market opens for business.
However, one observer insists all the talk of Bellingham signing for Liverpool may be a little too premature.
And the man in question, Gabriel Agbonlahor, has told Football Insider why he think Liverpool will fall short.
Liverpool told they will miss out on Jude Bellingham transfer
Indeed, with the Reds currently struggling down in ninth place in the Premier League, Agbonlahor believes Bellingham will reject a move if Liverpool cannot offer him Champions League football.
They currently sit a huge 10 points off the top four and have it all to do over the second half of the season.
And Agbonlahor reckons failure to cement their place in UEFA’s premier competition will end their Bellingham prospects.
“I don’t think they can get him without Champions League. If they are going to get him, they have to finish in the top four.
“No player of his quality will want to miss out on a year playing at the highest level.
“Even if they do get Champions League football, I still think there will be big competition.
“Man City will be looking, Real Madrid are an option – along with every club in the world.
“For me, it will come down to him specifically wanting to play for Liverpool.
“The influence of Steven Gerrard, or any of the current players – that means nothing.”
Real Madrid storm into Bellingham lead with enticing swap plan
With regards Bellingham’s fee this summer, Radio Marca reports on Wednesday that Borussia Dortmund will seek a minimum £97.2m (€110m) fee for his services.
And while that is a price Liverpool are seemingly willing to meet, reports in Spain now suggest Real now have the advantage.
That’s amid claims that they are willing to offer BVB the chance to sign Eduardo Camavinga as part of the deal.
The France midfielder moved to the Bernabeu in summer 2021 in a big-money move from Rennes.
Signing on a deal to summer 2027, he hasn’t quite settled as some had hoped in the Spanish capital. Indeed, he has been in and out of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad during his time with Los Blancos.
And while he has made 27 appearances in all competitions this season, only 11 of these have been starts.
With competition fierce, Camavinga has often found himself on the bench behind Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni.
The prospective signing of Bellingham would further complicate matters for Camavinga.
However, a solution for all parties could be presented were they to offer Camavinga in part exchange. Still only 20, the star would fit perfectly with the BVB model of signing the game’s best young stars.
And while a very different midfielder to Bellingham, his signing may be in the best interests of all parties.
Real are yet to make an official approach for Bellingham’s services. But were they to make a cash-plus-Camavinga offer, it may well put them in the driving seat to secure his signature.
