Transfer News: Liverpool set to miss out on long time transfer target

Liverpool transfer target Jude Bellingham prefers to stay at Dortmund next season rather than moving to the Premier League

According to BILD (h/t Liverpool Echo), long time transfer target Jude Bellingham is unlikely to make the switch to Liverpool next summer. The 18-year-old English midfielder has apparently assured his current employers that he will continue with them in the Bundesliga next season.

The former Birmingham wonderkid has had a meteoric rise in the last few years. Bellingham is considered one of the biggest talents in world football, and he has lived up to his expectations by performing exceedingly well at Dortmund.

Bellingham plays predominantly as a box to box midfielder. He is very assured on the ball and has an exceptional passing ability. He can also chip in with goals and assists from midfield as evidenced by the fact that he has scored six goals and 12 assists from 34 games for Borussia Dortmund this season.

Just 18 years old, England manager Gareth Southgate trusts the midfield starlet, handing him ten caps to date at the senior level. Bellingham also played a part in the recently concluded Euro 2020 in which England finished as the runners up just behind Italy.

Having already achieved so many plaudits, it is easy to see why Bellingham is a topic of major interest for top clubs and Liverpool are no exception. Having a player of Bellingham’s quality is something that would make the Reds even more formidable than they already are while also boosting their midfield rebuild.

What are Liverpool’s midfield options?

While the Merseysiders have a lot of talent in midfield, it is probably still their weakest position in comparison to their options in attack and defence. Fabinho has been great as a defensive midfielder, but club captain Jordan Henderson is 31 and will need to be replaced in the future.

Although Thiago Alcantara when fit is a world-class player, he has been extremely injury prone since he joined the Reds and at 30, the Spanish playmaker is not getting any younger. Naby Keita has been extremely inconsistent and does not inspire much confidence when the chips are down.

The ever-versatile James Milner has been played in midfield and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can also do a job when needed. The former’s time at the top is coming to an end while the latter could be on his last legs at Anfield.

In Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, the Reds have two big English talents and if they continue on the same path, could end up becoming mainstays of Liverpool’s midfield for many many years. Add Bellingham into the mix and it is the position sorted for the next decade.

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Having an addition like Bellingham will instantly increase the quality of Liverpool’s midfield and potentially provide them with the heir to Jordan Henderson. Whether the Reds will make Dortmund an offer they can not refuse or wait until Bellingham eases his stance in the future to make their move remains to be seen.