FSG fail Liverpool by pulling out of Bellingham move

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 12 Apr 2023 14:39 BST
• 4 min read

Well, that’s that, then. After all the noise and the rumination, Liverpool pull out of a move for Jude Bellingham.

The club have been linked with the Borussia Dortmund midfielder since well into last year. We reported that meetings took place, club legends thought it was a matter of formalities, that the England international liked the project, and that he was the favourite in lieu of interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Of course, it came crumbling down as either Fenway Sports Group (FSG) or Jurgen Klopp or both decided that they would not even be making an offer. It came directly after a former player tweeted that a bid had been made. And in the subsequent hour, it appeared that Bellingham joining Liverpool was as close as it’s ever been - until the media releases came out, that is.

READ MORE: Jude Bellingham transfer Power Ranking: Who will sign the Dortmund star?

Systematically every national reporter covering the club extensively published the news that any move for Bellingham would not take place this summer, that there would be no offer, and that the transfer kitty would be split into several players instead. It was a gross turn of events considering some of the same publications were - like FootballTransfers had done - speaking up Liverpool’s resolve in buying Bellingham in the summer window.

Whether an official embargo and statement were put out is one thing, but it was certainly orchestrated. The club wanted it out in the public domain that any pursuit of Bellingham - the man they made been chasing since the end of last summer - had ended because of the cost. Whether splitting the £130m fee they would have handed to BVB on several players will work out better remains to be seen. It was a lot of money for one footballer, that is without a doubt. But the manner in which it has been dealt with is outright bizarre - why brief intentions of making the swoop for a week before pulling the plug? What’s changed? The price was always inflamed, and FSG had always known that, so why the issue all of a sudden? And why now, straight after a competent display against Premier League leaders Arsenal?

All these questions only higher-ups at the club know the answer to: it’s been mentioned that it could all well be a move to bring down the price for Bellingham, but using the club’s most senior correspondents to flush out false news as a negotiation tactic is a very bold move. It’s pretty unfeasible.

Other Liverpool targets

So where next? We have reported interest in Mason Mount and Khephren Thuram. Other British outlets have ratified the former while French publications have stood up the latter. Thruam is certainly set to leave Nice this summer, we hear. Alexis Mac Allister’s agent and father has a line to the Reds and other places have suggested there’s interest. Moises Caicedo has been reported by other publications and we heard Romeo Lavia is of interest. Kouadio Kone and Liverpool had talks, but sounds are he might be still a bit too raw.

At centre-back, Antonio Silva and Josko Gvardiol are targets, as we reported, and following the latest news, the club could have more expenditure to bring those in. Gonaalo Inacio is another we excluively told you about. In any case, the Bellingham saga is done, reportedly signed off by Klopp, and so FSG and the coach must get their heads together and ensure that their other main targets are swiftly brought in. Some fans are at their wit's end with FSG following this dour season - but the American owners have a whole summer to ensure that there is not a repeat of the same next term.