Liverpool's highly-anticipated summer pursuit of Borussia Dortmund and England starlet Jude Bellingham has been cast into doubt due to the finances it would take to topple Manchester City and Real Madrid, according to a new report.
Jurgen Klopp's interest in the 19-year-old midfielder has become the worst-kept secret in European football over the past 12 months, with Bellingham viewed as a transformative figure in rebuilding the Reds' ageing midfield department.
However, The Athletic's David Ornstein is reporting that Liverpool's battle to win the race for Bellingham's signature has taken a serious blow in recent weeks due to a number of factors, including the expected finances of the deal. The Bundesliga outfit are under no obligation to sell the former Birmingham City prodigy, who has no release clause inserted in his contract which runs until the summer of 2025.
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In his latest column, Orstein detailed the reasoning behind Liverpool's change in belief of landing a deal, writing: "As there isn’t a release clause in Bellingham’s deal, his employers have no obligation to sell, and that is among the reasons why it is anticipated it will take a very high price to alter their stance.
"That makes a deal challenging for every interested party and therefore — as things stand — it is regarded as increasingly unlikely that Liverpool will sign Bellingham in this summer’s transfer window.
"The 19-time English champions have probably been more heavily linked than anyone else and manager Jurgen Klopp is a huge admirer.
"But the anticipated fee, the financial power of rival suitors and their reticence about entering a bidding war at the level expected has cast significant doubt on Liverpool’s chances.
"It does not mean their pursuit is off and no firm decisions have been made, although sources with knowledge of the matter think City and Real Madrid are in stronger positions at the moment."
"Considering Liverpool will finish this season empty-handed in terms of trophies (other than August’s Community Shield victory over City), sit seven points outside the Champions League spots after 26 of their 38 games, have expiring contracts and are ageing in parts of the squad, some major calls are approaching, and recruitment work is taking place on multiple fronts and with various options.
"Such factors will impact the budget and, in turn, Liverpool’s ultimate hopes of landing Bellingham."
The Reds decision to add just one senior midfielder to their ranks on a permanent basis since the summer of 2019 is one that has been criticised over the course of a tumultuous campaign at Anfield.
Arthur Melo was signed on loan from Juventus on the last day of the summer transfer window as Klopp scrambled for cover for the injured Jordan Henderson, who had pulled up against Newcastle United with a hamstring injury less than 24 hours earlier.
In the months since, it has been reported the Reds would target significant incomings in midfield during the off-season, with Chelsea's Mason Mount and Bellingham two players both continually linked with switches to Anfield.
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