Liverpool pull out of Jude Bellingham race

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 11 Apr 2023 21:53 BST
• 3 min read

Liverpool have admitted defeat in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund's nascent England international Jude Bellingham, according to reports.

Liverpool have pulled out of the race to sign Bellingham - previously their top transfer target - with no guarantee of Champions League football next season and the player set to blow too big a hole their budget, should he join.

"Jurgen Klopp's summer rebuild plans have been redrawn and no longer include the Borussia Dortmund midfielder because of the prohibitive cost of a deal, which would require meeting a valuation in excess of £115 million as well as matching wage demands worthy of the most wanted young player in Europe," write The Telegraph.

READ: Bellingham joined by second England star as Real Madrid target

It is understood Klopp will stick around for a summer rebuild after enduring his worst ever season as Liverpool manager, but with the team currently 12 points off the Champions League places, they could miss out on up to £70 million in potential prize money.

There will be money to invest in the team, but major surgery is needed throughout, with Trent Alexander-Arnold struggling at right-back and Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo struggling to replace Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in attack.

Liverpool still need to sign midfielders - James Milner is 37, Jordan Henderson 33, while Naby Keita is set to follow Firmino in leaving on a free transfer at the end of the campaign, but Bellingham, it would seem, will no longer be the silver bullet.

READ: Liverpool and Chelsea monitoring Serie A star

Bellingham alternatives

Liverpool have been linked with a host of other midfielder. Klopp is a long-term admirer of Wolves star Matheus Nunes, Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch could be picked up on the cheap, while Mason Mount's contract impasse at Chelsea makes him an attractive proposition too.

Klopp, while pragmatic about the decision, will no doubt be disappointed.

"If you mention to someone who has no clue about football or who knows about football and has not watched it for a while 'how old do you think Jude Bellingham is?' I don't think anyone would get even close to his age. They would say 28 or 29 because he plays so mature. He played an exceptional World Cup. Absolutely exceptional," he previously said.