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Date published: Wednesday 21st September 2022 3:08 – Matthew Stead
Jude Bellingham ‘ticks all the boxes’ for Liverpool but there is a World Cup concern at Anfield over what would be a British record transfer.
FEAR AND GREED
It will be important to pace those Jude Bellingham updates properly over the coming year or so. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder will almost inevitably be next summer’s most coveted player and the ensuing transfer auction has to be built up appropriately.
Liverpool hope to be at the front of that particular queue and The Athletic have the latest on their pursuit just as we enter the international break. Sumptuous timing.
They report on Dortmund’s valuation of Bellingham (£131.6m) and how Liverpool see the 19-year-old ‘as the complete box-to-box midfielder’ who ‘ticks all the boxes’.
But there is also a line about how Liverpool ‘fear’ Bellingham’s price ‘could escalate significantly’ with a strong World Cup showing. With there being no real chance of arranging a deal with Dortmund before then, the Reds might simply have to accept that consequence of a) a mid-season major international tournament, and b) insisting on being boring and spending within their means.
JES MAN
Arsenal won’t be in the Bellingham market but they will certainly be active elsewhere. German newspaper Bild describe them as ‘really hot’ for Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Jesper Lindstrom.
The Gunners are keeping tabs on the 22-year-old, who has eight goals and nine assists for the Bundesliga club since joining from Brondby for around £6m in summer 2021.
Lindstrom can play as an attacking midfielder and on either wing, with such versatility appealing to Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard bloody loves his lads to play in numerous different positions.
Arsenal have thus been in touch with Lindstrom’s agent and are considering making a bid of just under £17m to test the waters.
WAHDA DEAL
Everton have done a mightily fine job of trimming the considerable fat accrued over years of daft spending at Goodison Park.
This summer alone saw the exits of Cenk Tosun, Fabian Delph, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, as Marcel Brands presumably shed a single tear.
But some are still clinging on, such as Allan. The Brazilian has played 13 times under Frank Lampard and not started since late April but can take a hint and is thus plotting his exit.
The transfer window does not close until October in the Middle East and Allan is taking full advantage by ‘opening talks’ with Al-Wahda, according to Football Insider.
There is no place for Allan in Alex Iwobi’s midfield and Everton are ‘happy’ for him to go to Carlos Carvalhal’s Al-Wahda.
Liverpool have been told that they need to sign “a number 8, a right-winger and a right-back” in the coming months as they are “weaker than last season”.
Jude Bellingham is understood to be one of three Bundesliga players featured on Chelsea’s target list ahead of next summer’s transfer window.
Neville believes Klopp will want a “statement” signing the calibre of Mbappe if Liverpool finish outside the top four in 22/23.
Fabrizio Romano has suggested that “Arsenal can’t compete” with the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid in the chase for Jude Bellingham.
The ‘age profile’ of the Liverpool squad means they are saving themselves for the World Cup. Plus, Man Utd could finally have their KDB…
Ian Wright thinks Liverpool will struggle to sign Jude Bellingham ahead of Real Madrid as they are currently in a “very precarious position”.
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