Liverpool confident on Bellingham as Klopp plots €220m summer transfer spend

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 3 Apr 2023 09:34 BST
• 4 min read

Liverpool are now confident of completing a transfer for Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund, FootballTransfers can reveal.

Senior officials have spoken about how the England international will make the move to Anfield and we have been informed that even the midfielder’s brother - Jobe Bellingham - has indicated that this will be the case as well.

The Reds have set aside a budget specifically to bring in the 19-year-old in the summer window and they will be looking to spend a further €100 million on top of this - as well as player sales which could increase the amount significantly more.

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As well as club officials, FootballTransfers understands that club legends - who we shall leave nameless - have spoken with a huge degree of certainty that the teenager will make the move to Merseyside as well.

Bellingham, as FootballTransfers reported last month, is leaning towards the Reds above other sides and his representatives have had meetings in London with Liverpool personnel already. We are told Bellingham staying with Borussia Dortmund for another year is unlikely but they will demand north of €120m and there are likely to be several proposals on the table.

We are informed Liverpool’s biggest threat is Manchester City.

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Liverpool summer sales

In terms of the aforementioned outgoings. Those earmarked for a probable move include Caoimhin Kelleher, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Joel Matip and Nat Phillips, who is currently being watched by Hertha Berlin. The Bundesliga side tried to sign him on loan on Deadline Day but Jurgen Klopp pulled the plug at the last minute.

Diogo Jota is another who could leave, with Liverpool set to demand €70m for the attacker. The Portugal international would have to contend with the starting trio of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez but we understand the former Wolves man is happy at Liverpool.

James Milner will probably will leave on a free in the upcoming window and Jordan Henderson may stay.

As reported previously, Liverpool have an interest in Josko Gvardiol of RB Leipzig but believe they will struggle to purchase him owing to the fee that the German side will demand.

As we exclusively reported, also on their list for defensive reinforcements are Antonio Silva of Benfica, Goncalo Inacio, at Sporting CP, and Jarrad Branthwaite, who is at PSV on loan from Everton.

Mason Mount, who we revealed is a priority target, prefers a move to Liverpool in the next window. It’s unlikely he will stay at Chelsea, we hear.

Elsewhere, there is genuine interest in Marco Asensio. The Real Madrid attacker is a free agent in the summer and would represent a cheap option and something of a replacement for the departing Roberto Firmino, though the Spaniard would play as part of a dual No.10 if he was to join. Interest is only tentative at this stage and though the Reds have been linked to the player for a number of years, we are told Pep Lijnders is a big fan.

Furthermore, there have been a number of eyes on more Dutch players.

Liverpool, then, are in for an exciting summer of transfers.