Klopp rules out move for Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham
Cameron Smith
- 11 Jul 2022 09:57 CDT
- 4 min read
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has swatted away suggestions that his side will sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham this summer.
The German head coach has revealed that the England international is simply "not on the market" this summer, despite rumours that the Reds may attempt to sign the former Birmingham City star.
Bellingham, who is still only 19, joined Dortmund back in 2020 and has become a leader within the team, while his maturity has led to over 10 England caps already.
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The midfielder was linked with a move to Manchester United before he joined Dortmund, but opted against a move to Old Trafford, despite the Red Devils' desire to sign him.
Instead, he chose to move abroad and that decision has paid dividends with interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.
Real Madrid have been linked, with Los Blancos keen to rejuvenate a midfield that is approaching the end of its cycle, while Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Bellingham in 2023.
But, Klopp has clearly stated that the Englishman won't be arriving at Anfield this summer.
What has Klopp said?
He told the press during Liverpool's pre-season preparations for the upcoming Premier League season: "He [Bellingham] is not on the market, so that’s the first problem with that player.
“Well, that’s the only problem with that player," he added.
Klopp was then questioned whether Liverpool were looking to strengthen in midfield, following their failed pursuit of Aurelien Tchouameni, who has joined REal Madrid. Klopp replied: "No. I can say that. "I don’t think something will happen in midfield, but you never know. If somebody comes to you and says ‘I want to go’, then [maybe].
"Nobody came to me yet - but if that happens then we have to talk new."
Even without any new additions in midfield, Liverpool already have a plethora of players in that position, all of whom will be fighting for two or three spaces in the starting XI, depending on which formation Klopp opts to use.
"If the situation stays like it is, then tell me why [Liverpool would look to sign a midfield player],” Klopp continued.
"I don’t understand. I do not understand. People told me about this discussion, but the last thing that would have crossed my mind is that we have to do this.
"I know all these things, that we ‘don’t score enough goals from midfield’, this and that, but what do we want? This ‘Golden Cow’ that is producing absolutely everything, milk as well!
He then proceeded to list the options currently at his disposal. "We can go through it. Where do you want to start?
"So, Fabinho, [Jordan] Henderson, Thiago [Alcantara], [James] Milner, [Naby] Keita, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho, [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain. Now you tell me what kind of player are we missing? One who is offensive, 1.95m and arrives into the box to head balls in? OK, apart from that!
"We have three players in the squad who can easily play as a No.6 - Fabinho, of course, but Hendo [Jordan Henderson] and Milly [James Milner] played it fine.
"Creativity? If we bring in a player just for that, we immediately make it more difficult for Harvey, Curtis and Fabio.
"They can all play different positions as well of course, Curtis can play a line higher and Harvey and Fabio can play there too. Fine. We can play a different system as well, where we might only need two midfielders, but then all these guys can play as a No.10 in the new system.
"So where is the need for a midfielder? I wait for the day when somebody comes to me and tells me why, exactly," he concluded.
