Jordan Henderson admits it "would be amazing" if Liverpool are able to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
And the Reds skipper has urged his fellow England international to think carefully about his next career move as the battle for one of Europe's most gifted teenagers gets set to intensify.
The 19-year-old is Liverpool's primary summer transfer target with Jurgen Klopp a known admirer of the Dortmund star but the Reds will face stern competition when the window opens with both Manchester City and Real Madrid linked with a blockbuster move of their own for Bellingham.
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Any deal for the Reds would eclipse the club-record £75m fee paid for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018 and Henderson says he would love to see his international colleague become a team-mate at club level.
The Liverpool skipper, who, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold has become close with Bellingham off the pitch during their time together in the Three Lions' squad, has urged his more inexperienced colleague to make the right move for himself as speculation gets set to be ramped up in the coming months.
“Listen, I just want him to be the best player he can be," Henderson said. "Of course, if it ended up being Liverpool, that would be amazing. But it’s got to be right for him, and it’s going to be every club you can think of that will want him.
"He has to think about himself and make sure he makes the right decision for his career. But there’s going to be one club that will end up getting him, whether that is now or in a year or two, and it will be a lucky club.”
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With Dortmund under no pressure to sell the England teenager, any deal for Bellingham would likely cost well over £100m, which could potentially set a new Premier League record if he was to move back to England later this year.
Henderson, though, feels any would-be buyer would be acquiring an outstanding midfielder for at least the next few years given Bellingham won't turn 20 until June.
The Liverpool midfielder added: "His potential is through the roof. Honestly, I can’t believe his age, how mature he plays, how mature he is off the pitch, in the gym, training, everything, recovery day after the game. He is just dedicated to football.
“He is a really special player and I can't believe his mentality, how he applies himself to training and the games, everything. I’ve never seen it before so I'm pretty confident that he'll be a pretty good player for many years to come."
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