Jude Bellingham has fuelled speculation over his future by signing a Real Madrid top.
The Borussia Dortmund star is set to be the most in-demand player on the market come the summer, such has been his rapid rise. The Bundesliga outfit are set to demand more than £100m for the teenage prodigy, which means only Europe's heavyweights will be in for him.
Los Blancos and Liverpool are among those most heavily linked with Bellingham. Both Manchester clubs have also been touted as possible destinations. Madrid have target young midfielders in recent years, adding Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni in successive summers.
Bellingham was in his Dortmund training kit when he signed the white Real home kit. He could've opted against doing so, but his decision has fuelled suggestions he could move to the Spanish capital.
Liverpool are ready to rival the European Champions for Bellingham's signature. The midfielder is eventually expected to return to English shores and they themselves are in need of a marquee signing in the middle of the park. Jurgen Klopp's side opted not to bring in any new faces last summer - a move that has been widely criticised.
Bellingham though has been advised by former England international Sol Campbell to turn down Liverpool's advance and opt for a switch to Madrid.
“Real Madrid is obviously one of the great historical teams and the way he playing, if he goes in the same direction, he would be perfect for Real Madrid because he is very young,” he explained at an event this week in Turkey.
“He's way ahead in a lot of things, he just needs the right club and the right manager to guide him in the right direction, that's all, and the right environment, because sometimes you can go to the wrong environment and so you waste your talent for a few years.”
“If he goes to Madrid, he will improve the team, but also the club can keep him in the future. It is a club that knows what to do with young players, to make sure they are going in the right direction and continue to perform. And at Real Madrid, if you're good, you stay a long time. They keep all the really good players and Bellingham is one of the best young players. You just need the right environment to keep your feet on the ground and keep learning.”
Liverpool recently copped criticism from Jamie Carragher for their failure to add to what is an ageing midfield. Thiago is their only notable signing in recent years with stalwarts like Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and James Milner still very much part of the set-up.
He said on Sky Sports: "Liverpool have bought one proper midfield player in four-and-a-half years in Thiago - and it is coming back to haunt them now. Everyone keeps talking about Jude Bellingham - Liverpool haven't got a problem going forward, it is a midfield player to stop the opposition coming right through them."
"Liverpool's transfer committee and Jurgen Klopp, who have brought players to the club, have been absolutely lauded more than any scouting network in football - this is on them. So when you've had the plaudits, to allow a team that almost won four trophies last season, to now be fighting for top four because they've only had one midfield player signed in four-and-a-half years."
