Klopp speaks of administration for Real Madrid target Bellingham
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has described Jude Bellingham as “exceptional” and outlined the midfielder’s qualities as Liverpool join the race for his signature.
The Liverpool manager was effusive in his praise of the Borussia Dortmund teenager, who will be the subject of an intense transfer battle next summer.
Liverpool will seek to compete with Real Madrid and Manchester City for Bellingham, who was valued at £130 million by Dortmund before his performances for England at the World Cup heightened the excitement over his talents.
Klopp wants reinforcements in midfield and his comments about Bellingham could be construed as part of a charm offensive to entice the 19-year-old to Anfield. “I don’t like to talk about money when you talk about a player like him. Everyone can see he is just exceptional,” the German said.
“If you ask someone who has no clue about football, or who knows about football and has not watched it for a while, ‘How old do you think Jude Bellingham is?’ I don’t think anyone would get even close to his age. They would say 28 or 29 because he plays so maturely.
“He played an exceptional World Cup. With all the things he has and things he can improve, I would say the things he can do are difficult to learn, and the things he can improve are easy to learn. So, yes, he is a really good player. What can I say? I have thought that for two or three years since he had his breakthrough at Dortmund.
“Everybody knew already, but I have no idea what that [the World Cup] means for the money side of it. I really think if we all want to do him a favour then we do not talk too much about money. I mean that from an England point of view. Do not throw any hurdles in [the way of] his development.”
Liverpool would have to obliterate their transfer record to land Bellingham, having agreed a fee with Benfica last summer for Darwin Núñez that could reach £85 million. However, the club’s owner, Fenway Sports Group, announced last month that it was looking for new investment in the club. Klopp does not believe that finishing outside the top four this season would undermine the club’s chances of landing Bellingham.
Liverpool head to Aston Villa on Boxing Day in sixth position, seven points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, but Klopp believes that his side will always be contenders for the Champions League spots.
“It is very important for the club and that is our main target now,” he said. “You ask about it from a transfer perspective? Generally we have a good chance to qualify for the Champions League. Will it happen this year? I don’t know. But, 100 per cent, we are one of the contenders for the next few years again. That is how it is.
“If you ask a player and he says, ‘Next year you are not in the Champions League and I would prefer to go to a football club who plays this year and maybe not next year,’ then I am not sure I would still want this player, to be honest.
“For the moment we have two pathways to still qualify for the Champions League next year. As long as that is the case, I see ourselves as proper contenders for Champions League qualification. If not, then we can speak about that.”
