According to the гᴜmогs, Liverpool is getting ready to give up on their pursuit of Jude Bellingham, and Real Madrid is getting ready to seize the lead in the competition for this signature.
As well as poor play, injuries to Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara early in the season drove Jurgen Klopp into the transfer market on the final day of the window. As a result, Klopp made the decision to sign Juventus midfielder Arthur on a season-long loan.
Since Arthur has already sustained a long-term injury to his thigh, it is unlikely that he will be the long-term solution to their problems in the midfield.
According to sources, Liverpool was placing all of their hopes on the prospect of signing Bellingham and planned to hold off on making a move until the summer of 2019 in the hopes of finding the ideal target.
Bellingham demonstrated during the International Cup why he has become one of the most sought-after young talents in world football. He has been outstanding for Borussia Dortmund over the past few of seasons, and he proved why at the tournament.
The writer David Ornstein of The Athletic recently disclosed that Liverpool were the “frontrunners” for the signature of Bellingham’s but that “uncertainty” surrounding the ownership of the club might “play into the hands” of their competitors for the England international player.
After hearing гᴜmогs that the Reds would have to pay more than £100 million to get the midfielder, Ornstein stated in an interview that “only a tiny number of clubs will be able to afford” Bellingham.
However, news outlets have reported over the past few days that Liverpool had’reached a pre-agreement’ with another midfielder in the form of Enzo Fernandez, who now plays for Benfica.
It has been reported that the club from Merseyside “promises to match” any offer made by another club for the Argentine international player who has been excelling in the World Cup.
And it has been reported in the Spanish tabloid Marca that Liverpool are planning to “give up” on Bellingham in favor of pursuing Fernandez, who is described as a “more accessible target” for the club.
In comparison to the possible cost for Bellingham, Fernandez’s release clause in his contract at Benfica is around €90 million (about £77 million), which is a sum that Liverpool ‘thought acceptable.’
According to Marca, the fact that Jurgen Klopp is interested in Fernandez “opens the door to an immediate operation and a clear road” to Real Madrid. This is despite the fact that Real Madrid do not have the same “highest need and urgency” to acquire a central midfielder as Liverpool has.
Real Madrid is able to “contemplate all these maneuvers with some serenity,” but Bellingham’s performance at the World Cup has “convinced everyone,” and as a result, the La Liga giants believe that “the effort may be worth it.”
The Premier League team that “showed the greatest determination” and “was the one that was prepared to go the furthest in the struggle with Real Madrid to sign him” was Liverpool. Real Madrid also wanted to sign him.