Former Premier League forward Jan Age Fjortoft has hinted Liverpool could have a possible advantage over 'state-owned' clubs in the race for Jude Bellingham.
The 19-year-old has been with Borussia Dortmund since 2020 and remains under contract until 2025. Bellingham is currently in Qatar for the World Cup.
As reported by the ECHO back in July, Bellingham is someone who is widely admired among the people who matter where recruitment is concerned at Liverpool. Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid have also reportedly shown an interest in the midfielder.
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Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke admitted on German TV earlier this month that his club cannot offer Bellingham the same terms as the biggest European sides might.
As a result, it is likely the England international will be sold next summer if he tells them he wants to leave during talks with the club after the World Cup.
He said: “We will hold talks now, as soon as [the World Cup in] Qatar is over, and then we’ll have a fundamental talk about what he would like.
“He just needs to tell us if he’d like to stay or if he’d like to go. In both cases we’ll talk about it very pleasantly and reasonably together.
“In general we can imagine that he’d stay with us, but we can’t behave as if this topic wasn’t on the table. If he says ‘I’d like to do something else,’ then the really big [clubs] in Europe will be there and we can’t afford to fight financially.”
And Fjortoft, writing on Twitter, has indicated Jurgen Klopp’s close friendship with Watzke, and the fact Liverpool aren’t a 'state-owned' club, could be a potential advantage for the Reds.
“Re: Jude Bellingham. My take: Dortmund- boss Watzke doesn’t want to sell him to “those kind of clubs”. Meaning “state-clubs”.
“His mate Klopp is at Liverpool. But Team Bellingham will make their own analysis.”
Asked to name who his England hero was when recalling his memories of the World Cup, Bellingham told BBC Sport : “Gerrard was probably my biggest one.
“The character he has besides football is world-class, and then you add on his ability - it’s a joke."
Before he added: “When your heroes take the time to appreciate what you’ve done, it is really special.
“I’m not sure how I feel [about Gerrard comparisons] because it’s almost disrespectful to him with all he has achieved in the game. To say that, after three years, we have similarities.
“I think I just want to be Jude and go on my own path. What he did was amazing and if I can even get close to what he did, then I’ve done well."
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