Liverpool are happy with their incoming transfer business for the summer and will now wait until next year to try and sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, according to reports.
The Merseysiders moved quickly to secure a deal for Benfica frontman , with the transfer fee potentially reaching £85million if various bonuses and add-ons are met.
Liverpool have also secured two young prospects for the future in the shape of Fabio Carvalho, who joins from Fulham, and Aberdeen’s Calvin Ramsay – who will cost around £6.5m.
According to , those three signings mean Liverpool have now concluded their incoming transfer business for the summer.
The club could still sell players – notably Sadio Mane, who is wanted by Bayern Munich – but are likely to hold on to midfielders such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita even though they are entering the final 12 months of their contracts.
That is because Jurgen Klopp is eager to sign Bellingham to be the new star of his midfield, but there’s just one problem: he has to wait a year to sign the England international.
Dortmund have always sold their best players but have a policy of only letting one big name go each year and Erling Haaland has already left to join Manchester City; a year before the Norwegian it was Jadon Sancho who was sold.
The German side are therefore unwilling to allow Bellingham to leave this summer, but Liverpool want to be front of the queue in a year’s time.
Klopp is a massive fan of the 18-year-old and feels he is exactly the profile of player he wants to build his midfield around, and he is prepared to bide his time to land the teenager.
For now, Liverpool are happy with their options in midfield – boasting experienced heads like Jordan Henderson, Thiago and Fabinho – but recognise the need to land a marquee player in that position for the years to come.
Bellingham is likely to command a massive transfer fee – perhaps even a British-record fee – and will likely be Liverpool’s one main target in the summer of 2023, with the club’s hierarchy prioritising quality over quantity each window.
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