The Jude Bellingham transfer saga is a rollercoaster like no other.
In the space of 48 hours we’ve gone from Jurgen Klopp reportedly stepping in to make sure signing the Borussia Dortmund star is a ‘top, top priority’ for Liverpool and telling the club that other transfer targets should be ‘pushed down the pecking order’ as a result,’ to it apparently looking ‘increasingly unlikely’ that the Reds will sign the England international after all.
Who knows what to believe. And no doubt there will be a few more twists and turns ahead before the midfielder makes a final decision about his future and his next destination is actually set in stone.
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In truth, varying reports on Bellingham’s future are nothing new. With Liverpool’s interest in the 19-year-old dating back to his time in the Birmingham City academy, he has already been a firm transfer target for well over a year, with the Reds’ decision not to sign a new midfielder last summer in part due Borussia Dortmund having no interest in selling at the time.
"He’s not on the market, so that’s the first problem with that player,” Klopp would say of Bellingham last summer as Liverpool decided to wait for the ‘right player’. “Well, the only problem with that player!”
Of course, the Reds aren’t the only side interested in the teenager with Real Madrid and Man City the other sides most heavily linked with his signature. Over the past 12 months, all three sides have been handed more transfer boosts and blows regarding Bellingham than any of us can keep count of, with each said to be leading the chase one minute before conceding defeat the next numerous times in continuous contrasting reports across the continent.
Kopites inevitably aren’t too happy with the latest reports from the Athletic, having seen their side seemingly wait a year for Bellingham to become available, only to risk missing out on the midfielder regardless.
But we should all know by now not to take anything for granted in modern football until they have dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s on any would-be contract.
You only need to recall how Kylian Mbappe looked certain to join Real Madrid throughout all of last season, only to decide at the 11th hour to stay put at Paris Saint-Germain. It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
If it comes down to purely finances, with the Reds also at risk of missing out on the Champions League, then they will inevitably struggle to sign Bellingham. Yet, if there is more for the Bellingham camp to consider, they still have a fighting chance.
This was the case with Virgil van Dijk, after all, as the likes of Man City, Manchester United, and Chelsea all reportedly pursued the Dutchman. They had seemingly missed the boast after being forced to walk away from a deal in the summer of 2017. Yet he decided Liverpool were the club for him and Anfield was the only destination he had in his sights as Klopp got his man the following January.
On the other side of the coin, the Reds suffered the same way when it came to their pursuit of Aurelien Tchouameni last summer, as they were informed he only had eyes for Real Madrid.
But perhaps Liverpool’s failed pursuit of Timo Werner three years ago can offer some sort of consolation for pessimistic supporters now fearing any pursuit of Bellingham is destined to end in failure.
As is now the case with the Borussia Dortmund star, the Reds found themselves linked with the Germany international for well over a year. As a result, with a release clause coming into play in his RB Leipzig contract, he seemed destined to move to Anfield.
But then the Coronavirus pandemic hit. While the forward was still available for £47.5m, Liverpool were in no position at the time to finance such a deal in one go. The player might have wanted to join Klopp’s side, but, unable to let his release clause expire, was forced to consider moves elsewhere once it became clear the Reds were unable to step forward to the negotiating table.
As a result, Chelsea swooped in and activated Werner’s release clause in June 2020, leaving Liverpool to wonder what might have been.
With no choice but to wait as a result of the financial ramifications of the pandemic, they belatedly brought in a new forward the following September when Diogo Jota was snapped up in a £45m move from Wolves. Given how Werner struggled at Stamford Bridge while the Portuguese flourished at Anfield, the Reds should have no regrets regarding how that particular saga turned out.
Granted, it would be a major surprise if Bellingham should flop wherever he ends up moving to next. But the fact that Liverpool had a quality alternative lined up at least suggests they will still strengthen their midfield suitably in the summer, even if they do miss out on their first-choice target. After all, links to Chelsea's Mason Mount and Wolves' Matheus Nunes, both of whom are more financially attainable, also persist. As the ECHO has previously reported, the list of potential targets being monitored is believed to be lengthier than usual because of all the variables going into this summer.
“The way this club is led is by not splashing the money and having a look at if it works out or not,” Klopp reminded reporters last month. “Our transfers always have to be on point. So that makes it really tricky where we cannot make four transfers before we know who will leave the club.”
Meanwhile, when talking about Saudi-financed Newcastle United, he said: “What did I do different? The only difference is where the money is coming from.”
If Liverpool are in a position to finance a deal for Bellingham, then they will. It is just harder for them to raise such funds, as has always been the case, compared to their also-interested rivals. Without significant sales or Champions League football, it inevitably becomes that bit more difficult.
But if they are not and they end up missing out on him, so be it. It won’t be what Reds bosses want but they will have to move on. It will make their failings this year sting that little bit more, no doubt about that, but their list of alternatives is already drawn up.
Boasting an ageing squad in transition, in need of a midfield revamp, multiple fresh players are needed regardless of the eventual resolution to the Bellingham transfer saga. If he ends up not being Liverpool’s answer despite this lengthy pursuit, then someone else has to be.
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