Liverpool's hopes of landing Jude Bellingham, one of the most in-demand midfielders in European football, could be in serious jeopardy if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.
That's according to Ian Wright, who has questioned why the teenager would want to move to Anfield if Jurgen Klopp's side can no longer guarantee him elite European football next year.
Captain of Borussia Dortmund at just 19 years old, England international Bellingham has seen his stock rise significantly over the last 12 months, with the Bundesliga club reportedly slapping a whopping £130mi price tag on the under-contract star's head. But with so many top clubs chasing him, Match of the Day pundit Wright can see Bellingham being more likely to move to Manchester City rather than Liverpool.
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Speaking on the Kelly and Wrighty show, the Arsenal legend said: "The problem is that Bellingham has the pick of the greatest at the moment. How do you sell Liverpool to him? You’re going to need other players alongside him so you can say we’re going to get back to this.
“How are you going to be able to entice him against a City who can say, ‘look who we have got’, and Real Madrid who can say, ‘look who we have got’. Liverpool are now in a very precarious position, which is why I want Liverpool to just focus on getting the top four.”
The Reds' defeat at the Emirates on Sunday has left them 14 points behind table-topping Arsenal - with a game in hand - and six points adrift of the Champions League qualification places.
Jurgen Klopp has also been dealt a triple blow after it was confirmed that centre-back Joel Matip will be missing for two-to-three weeks with a calf problem, Trent Alexander-Arnold is out for a fortnight with an ankle injury and Luis Diaz won't play against until after the Qatar World cup after sustaining a knee injury.
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