- 13 hours ago
Liverpool’s summer plans for Jude Bellingham: The state of play
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 28 Dec 2022 20:52 GMT
- 4 min read
Liverpool will not make a move for Jude Bellingham during the January transfer window and will instead prioritise his signing in the summer of 2023.
That is according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who reports that Bellingham is the Reds' top target at the end of the season.
Romano adds that will not prevent Liverpool from still trying to sign another central midfielder during the January transfer window.
Liverpool’s midfield transfer plans
“Liverpool are exploring a move for a new midfielder,” Romano wrote in his column for CaughtOffside.
“Jude Bellingham is their top priority for the summer, as Borussia Dortmund don’t want to sell in January. Liverpool will try to find a new midfielder in January.”
Liverpool have already been very active as they completed the €57 million signing of PSV attacker Cody Gakpo on Boxing Day.
The Reds then plan to sign a central midfielder next month before moving for Bellingham in the summer.
Liverpool will be challenged by a host of Europe’s biggest clubs for the teenage Englishman.
Which clubs want to sign Jude Bellingham?
The Borussia Dortmund star is one of the hottest properties in football right now, with a host of major clubs all interested in signing him.
Until now, Liverpool have been considered as favourites for Bellingham due to their excellent relationship with the player and his family.
Bellingham is also close friends with Liverpool duo Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Real Madrid, Chelsea and Man City are all interested in signing the 19-year-old in 2023.
Bellingham was one of the young stars of the 2022 World Cup, scoring one, assisting one and being arguably England’s best player as they reached the quarter-finals.
Dortmund are expected to sell their star man next summer, having decided against losing him in 2022 during the same window that they lost Erling Haaland to Man City for €60m.
It had been expected that Bellingham would cost over €100m for whichever club does sign him, with some reports quoting his asking price as high as €150m. But this secret clause would change things if confirmed.
How much is Jude Bellingham actually worth?
The simple answer is as much as somebody is willing to pay, dependent on that mooted release clause of course.
Per SciSports' unique algorithm, which produces ETV (expected transfer value), Bellingham is currently valued at €88m.
