Liverpool have World Cup transfer fear about Jude Bellingham that Jurgen Klopp cannot fix | Football | Sport

Liverpool are worried that Jude Bellingham’s price tag could skyrocket if he plays a starring role for England at this year’s World Cup in Qatar, according to reports. Jurgen Klopp is said to have been a huge admirer of Bellingham for some time and has been tipped to launch a move for his services ahead of next season, with the German boss keen on adding a new midfielder to his ranks in the not-too-distant future.

Bellingham has firmly established himself as one of Europe’s finest young players over the last few years and is widely expected to feature regularly for England in Qatar this winter. Those in power at Liverpool will be hoping that does not emerge as one of the tournament’s standout players, though, in order to boost their hopes of snapping him up from Borussia Dortmund next summer.

According to The Athletic, Liverpool chiefs are worried that they may be forced into paying over-the-odds for Bellingham if he lights up the World Cup later this year. It is said that his potential transfer fee and wage demands could increase significantly in the event of a successful tournament, with Liverpool unlikely to wrap up a deal for his signature before the action gets underway in November.

However, the Reds may still have a number of advantages when it comes to jumping the queue for Bellingham, who is also said to be a target for the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea. He has developed a strong bond with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson during his time in the England setup, while Anfield staff are thought to view him as the complete box-to-box midfielder.

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It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will eventually be priced out of a move for Bellingham, though, with Dortmund unlikely to sell the England ace for anything less than a premium fee next summer. He remains tied down to the German heavyweights until the summer of 2025 as things stand and has played every minute in the Bundesliga for them so far this season.

The capture of a new playmaker could well be at the top of Liverpool’s list of priorities next summer, with the Reds having fallen short of their usual standards in midfield over the course of the campaign to date. They signed Arthur Melo on a season-long loan deal from Juventus on the final day of the summer transfer window, but the 26-year-old is yet to rubber-stamp a regular place in the side and was involved for the under-21s against Rochdale in the Papa John’s Trophy earlier this week.

Meanwhile, former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson recently insisted that Liverpool will be well-placed to land Bellingham next summer as a result of his ability to fit their chosen style of play under the watchful eye of Klopp.

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“He already has an unbelievable reputation,” Robinson told Football Insider. “His charisma on the ball is something special. I love watching him.

“To achieve what he has at such a young age is remarkable. I think he has been really clever with how he has managed his career and his career path.

“It is only a matter of time before he returns to England. I strongly suspect he will move to Liverpool because of the way they play. It suits him.”

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