Liverpool's admiration for Jude Bellingham might be one of the worst-kept secrets in football. But it may count for nothing if they don't qualify for the Champions League this season.
That's the view of former Blackburn Rovers and Celtic striker Chris Sutton, who has offered his verdict on the clear relationship between Bellingham and Liverpool's World Cup England representatives, which evidently blossomed in Qatar.
Despite Borussia Dortmund being rumoured to want in excess of £100m to let the 19-year-old move back to England, the Reds continue to be considered favourites to land the Birmingham City academy graduate's signature. But Sutton believes that making it into Europe's elite club competition is the minimum requirement to get the teenage midfielder, who starred for England in the recent World Cup in Qatar, to Anfield.
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Writing in the Mail, Sutton said: "Can Jude Bellingham’s bromance with Jordan Henderson help Liverpool sign him? What would give Liverpool more of an advantage is if they finish in a Champions League spot. That’s a must.
"Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson might be besties but Bellingham doesn’t want to play for a club in the Europa League. He wants to be among the elite.
"Liverpool have regressed a little, whereas this 19-year-old wants to go to a club that is moving forward. That makes the rest of this season huge for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool if they want to win the race for Bellingham."
The Reds' indifferent start to the Premier League season currently sees them placed sixth in the table as they head to Aston Villa on Boxing Day for the resumption of their top-flight campaign. Klopp's side are seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur having played a game less.
The last time Liverpool finished outside the top four was in 2016. They returned to the Champions League a year later, going on to reach two consecutive finals and wining the latter.
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