Liverpool make 'cheat offer' to beat Real Madrid to Bellingham

Stuart Telford

• 11 Jan 2023 13:08 GMT
• 3 min read

Liverpool are pulling out all the stops to try and beat Real Madrid and Manchester City to the signature of Borussia Dortmund and England star Jude Bellingham…

Liverpool have long targeted Bellingham as the solution to their midfield problems.

Each of Thiago Alcantara, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and even loan arrival Arthur Melo have been injured this season, while Jordan Henderson and James Milner are 37 and 32 respectively.

Unfortunately for the Reds, Bellingham's rise has been stellar. He has already led Borussia Dortmund out in the Champions League at the tender age of 19, and is one of the first names on Gareth Southgate's England teamsheet.

READ: Revealed: Jude Bellingham's Real Madrid contract offer

Accordingly, more than just Liverpool have entered the fray, with Real and Man City now two of the biggest clubs also at the table for his services.

Real are Spanish and European champions, perhaps the most prestigious club in the game, while City have won four of the last five Premier Leagues ahead of Liverpool and could outmatch them in terms of pay.

But the Reds are reportedly also ready to over Bellingham's father Mark - a former non-league goalscoring legend - a job as scout at the club, whilst they are also keeping tabs on Jude's younger brother Jobe, who is still at Birmingham.

READ: Real Madrid face 'sabotage' attempt in Bellingham transfer

'Cheat offer'

This hasn't gone down particularly well with Spanish media, with El Nacional reportedly describing Liverpool's Bellingham approach as a "cheat offer", according to Fotball365.

Bellingham has made 112 appearances for Dortmund since swapping Birmingham for the Bundesliga in a €23 million deal in July 2020, and his current employers are understood to want up to five times that figure.

Jobe Bellingham is still just 17, meanwhile. He has featured 14 times for Birmingham in the Championship this season and would cost significantly less than his brother.

Father Mark, a sergeant for West Midlands Police, passed 700 non-league goals in 2016.