Bellingham responds to Liverpool transfer interest

FT Desk

14 Sep 2022 02:03 CDT
3 min read

Jude Bellingham, Dortmund, 2021/22 — © ProShots

Jude Bellingham has been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool from Borussia Dortmund.

Article continues under the video

Bellingham has emerged as one of the best young midfielders in the game since swapping Birmingham City for Dortmund in the summer of 2020, making nearly 100 appearances in all competitions and lifting the DFB Cup last year despite his tender 19 years.

Dortmund has acted as a kind of finishing school for Premier League players in recent seasons, with Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland moving to Manchesters United and City respectively in consecutive seasons.

Jude Bellingham vs Man City 🎯

Is Bellingham headed to the Premier League this summer? 🤔pic.twitter.com/wyVqOdu1Ao
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) April 14, 2022

Bellingham will face City with Dortmund in Champions League Group G on Tuesday night. Asked ahead of the game whether it was a chance to showcase his talents to the wider Premier League, he was typically level-headed.

"First of all, I'm here to help Borussia Dortmund win the game," he told reporters. "If I can play well and showcase my talents, it is a bonus. But I'm here to win for Borussia Dortmund and I'm very happy here at the minute and I'm focused on all of the goals we have as a team and I'm not looking past that.

'Crazy to think about it'

"The club have done loads for me and made me feel very welcome since I first came and gave me the opportunities to develop even further. To look past that and into the future would be disrespectful.

"It's not something I am thinking about, to be honest. It's a massive game against Man City. To even be thinking about something like that would be crazy."

Bellingham impressed City coach Pep Guardiola when Dortmund ran into City at the quarter-final stage two seasons ago. The English champions ultimately prevailed 4-2 on aggregate, but Guardiola was effusive in his praise.

"I can't believe it, maybe he's a liar!" said the Catalan coach. "He's so good for 17 years old, he's a fantastic player. There was one moment when he didn't get the ball from central defenders, how he shouts and demands that ball to him at 17 means a lot."

Now a 19-year-old fast approaching his prime, Liverpool could have a battle on their hands to acquire him.

Read more about: Bundesliga, Premier League, Dortmund, Liverpool, Jude Bellingham