Liverpool have decided to end their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder Jude Bellingham after concluding that the addition of the midfielder would limit other areas of Jurgen Klopp's planned overhaul this summer.
The 19-year-old has been the Reds' top target for the last 12 months and Klopp has made no secret of his longing for Bellingham to become part of the furniture at Anfield, having lauded the England international's skillset on numerous occasions in public since the summer of 2022.
However, as reported by other national media outlets, the ECHO understands Borussia Dortmund's price tag for Bellingham exceeds £115m, with the Bundesliga side rather holding out for a fee in the region of £130m plus add-ons. Agent fees and salary demands would make the overall outlay even higher.
LATEST REACTION: Live transfer updates after twist in Liverpool's pursuit of Bellingham
READ MORE: National media react as Liverpool make 'humbling statement' on Bellingham decision
Such a fee would dwarf the current transfer record at Anfield which stands at £75m from the capture of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018.
It would also topple the possible final sum Darwin Nunez's arrival commanded last summer, which currently stands at an initial £64m but could rise by a further £21m if the Uruguayan's time on Merseyside delivers the anticipated team and individual success.
With two years remaining on his current contract at the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund are in no hurry to sanction the departure of Bellingham and reports from Germany earlier this year claimed club officials were still hopeful of tying the former Birmingham City midfielder down to a new five-year contract.
For Liverpool, it means their widely-publicised midfield overhaul will now commence without Bellingham's arrival. Chelsea duo Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher are two names the ECHO understands Liverpool are keeping close tabs on ahead of the transfer window, while Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Nunes has long-term admirers at Anfield dating back to his time at Sporting CP.
Speaking earlier this month, Klopp refused to be drawn on whether Liverpool would sanction in the excess of £100m one player this summer, instead telling reporters the Reds will spend regardless of who it is on.
"I will not answer the question because we never speak about these kind of things," said Klopp "We will spend in the summer, that's what I can say definitely.
"The club will spend in the summer, definitely. For who and how many and stuff like this, there is nothing to say about, really."
It is expected that Liverpool will need at least two midfield additions before the start of the 2023/24 season, with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both set to depart Anfield this summer upon the expiration of their contracts this summer. Veteran James Milner could also be in line for a summer exit, with the 37-year-old yet to pen a new one-year extension at Anfield.
Brazil international Arthur Melo, who was signed as part of a desperate last-gasp deadline-day panic, will return to Juventus on July 1 once his forgetful loan spell on Merseyside comes to an end.
READ NEXT:
FSG only have one card to play at Liverpool after giving up on Jude Bellingham
-
Steven Gerrard speaks out on next step after turning down 'exciting opportunity'
FA have obvious response to Constantine Hatzidakis and Andy Robertson incident at Liverpool
Brendan Rodgers may have pointed to ideal £50m summer signing for Liverpool
- Jurgen Klopp is set for a huge boost from four Liverpool players in 2023/24
