Carragher 'blames' Klopp for Liverpool's failed Bellingham pursuit

Jacque Talbot

• 30 Apr 2023 21:08 BST
• 3 min read

Jamie Carragher has put Liverpool’s shelved plans for Jude Bellingham down to Jurgen Klopp.

News filtered through that the Reds were going to ease off an attempt to sign the Borussia Dortmund star and instead look to bring in two or three additions to their midfield.

It is thought that the move was made with the club’s finances in mind - but Carragher, speaking on the Overlap, claimed that it was spearheaded by Klopp.

READ MORE: The six Liverpool players set to leave on a free transfer

Gary Neville had said on the show that Carragher must be disappointed by FSG decision, but the former Liverpool centre-back replied: "No, no. I was disappointed by Klopp. Liverpool did not buy a midfield player last summer. As a fan-base, we were waiting for Bellingham.

"It wasn't said in public, but we know in Liverpool circles we were waiting for the right one. Liverpool didn't exactly throw this season away, but they're short in midfield and we accepted that because they have done that before; they did it with [Virgil] van Dijk and Alisson the goalkeeper.

Carragher rues Bellingham missed chance

Carragher continued: "So then three quarters into the season you say we are not going to go for Bellingham. It's not because the finances [aren't there]. If Klopp wants to sign Bellingham he can sign Jude Bellingham if he wants to come."

"I accept we haven't got the money of Man City, Chelsea or at Manchester United, but what we have got is people who know what they are doing. Chelsea have spent loads of money and haven't got a clue what they are doing.

"In an ideal world, I would want loads of money, but I would still want what they are doing in terms of that decision-making, expertise. The idea of every owner is not spending loads of money, it's making the correct decisions and when you need to spend money, you do it.

"With the piece you [Neville] mention about me being critical, I was as critical about Jurgen Klopp and their staff with this [Bellingham] because this is a planning problem. You go from thinking you need one player to actually needing three or four.

"You then miss out on this marquee player. We know we are not Chelsea or United, but every now and then you just have to go 'bumph' and buy a top player to send a message to everyone else. Bellingham is probably the best young player out there right now."