Rio Ferdinand has questioned whether Liverpool will be able to sign Jude Bellingham after their Champions League exit.
The Reds were beaten 1-0 by the Spanish giants in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday night. Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the game as Jurgen Klopp's went out 6-2 on aggregate to Madrid.
The next time the two clubs could do battle is in the transfer market. Both are interested in signing Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder Jude Bellingham.
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But Ferdinand believes, after the clash between the Champions League meetings between the pair, that Bellingham would not be interested in signing for Liverpool.
The ex-Manchester United told BT Sport: “I just think, if he watches that tonight, he's sitting there thinking: ‘If Real Madrid are in for me and Liverpool, there's only one place I can go’ – and they [Liverpool] don't finish in the Champions League as well maybe.
“As a player – nothing to do with my allegiances to United or Liverpool – you look at it cold and you go: ‘I see more trophies here [at Madrid]’.”
Having gone so close to winning an unprecedented quadruple last season, the Reds will end this season empty-handed. Their priority now is finishing inside the top four and qualifying for next season's Champions League.
They are currently sixth and six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have played one game more. Liverpool return to action on Saturday, April 1 with a trip to defending champions Manchester City, who are battling Arsenal for the title.
Liverpool were beaten 1-0 in the second leg, losing 6-2 on aggregate to exit the Champions League.
Bellingham continues to be heavily linked with a move to Liverpool ahead of the summer transfer window. Jurgen Klopp and the Anfield hierarchy are well known to be admirers of the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
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