Fabrizio Romano one of two top sources to ignite Jude Bellingham to Liverpool transfer
Despite claims to the contrary, Fabrizio Romano and another trusted source believe Liverpool can still sign Jude Bellingham this summer, though two sides are now seemingly out of the race.
The Borussia Dortmund and England ace, 19, is Liverpool’s undisputed number one transfer target this summer. A midfield overhaul is required, with a third midfielder recently confirmed to be leaving Anfield this summer.
Liverpool have courted Bellingham for over a year and are fully aware a blockbuster move may not only require a club record fee, but also a British record fee too. The current mark stands at the £106.8m Chelsea paid to sign Enzo Fernandez in January.
However, a bombshell update from the Athletic’s David Ornstein on Monday suggested it was game over for the Reds.
Indeed, Ornstein reported it’s “increasingly unlikely” Bellingham winds up on Merseyside this summer.
The reporter stressed Man City and Real Madrid are in “stronger positions” and hinted Liverpool’s poor season this year is a major factor behind their chances diminishing.
The potential absence of Champions League revenue next season is expected to put a limit on owners FSG’s summer spend too.
However, while that update painted a picture of doom and gloom for Klopp, two other reliable journalists have projected a different story.
James Pearce on Jude Bellingham to Liverpool
Firstly, writing in a Q&A for the Athletic, their Liverpool expert, James Pearce, reiterated Bellingham is and still remains Liverpool’s No 1 target.
Furthermore, Pearce claimed the Bellingham transfer fee is likely to be paid in instalments, not as one giant lump sum up front.
As such, Liverpool won’t need to splash out an unprecedented sum in one go in a summer where they might be budgeting to not have UCL revenue next season.
Aiding their cause further from a financial perspective is new sponsorship deals with Standard Chartered and Expedia that will kick in this summer.
Additionally, Pearce added ‘budgeting for next season will include the extra revenue from the Anfield Road redevelopment.’
Finally, Bellingham also holds good relationships with influential Reds pair Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson. Those relationships have been cultivated during international duty with England.
READ MORE: Liverpool open talks with ex-Tottenham man who’ll help Klopp ignite Reds revolution
Fabrizio Romano weighs in
Elsewhere, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano provided his take on Bellingham’s future when speaking on his YouTube channel.
Romano was insistent Liverpool’s race is not run, quite the contrary. In fact, the Reds and Klopp in particular are and will continue to do everything within their power to sign Bellingham.
In the course of his update, Romano mentioned Real Madrid and Man City as Liverpool’s fiercest competition. Chelsea and Man Utd – who have always been seen as on the periphery of the battle for Bellingham – were not mentioned once.
“Many Liverpool fans are asking me ‘is the race over?'” said Romano. “From what I understand, nothing is over.
“Jude Bellingham has not communicated his decision to any club. So Bellingham or his father, Mark – who is taking care of the negotiation – have not called Liverpool or any other club to tell them it’s over.
“Bellingham is keeping all the options open. Of course, for Liverpool it’s not easy in case they don’t have Champions League football for next season.
“Also it’s important to mention the situation of the owners. It’s not making things easy for Liverpool in terms of project, future proposal (potential sale or partial sale).
“But what is also important to say is Jurgen Klopp will try until the end for Jude Bellingham.
“He already wanted him last year and he’s still fighting for this deal. So let’s see if Liverpool will be able to do that, but at the moment they have no intention of giving up.”
Romano continued: “Of course, they know it’ll be difficult. Why? Because Real Madrid are pushing like crazy.”
The journalist noted Real hold an “excellent” relationship with Dortmund CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke, while Man City too remain a firm fixture in the race.
While Liverpool’s task is clearly not an easy one, claims their hopes were already over certainly appear to be wide of the mark.
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