Jurgen Klopp praises Jude Bellingham and admits Champions League failure could cost them transfer
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Published 26/12/2022 at 10:22 GMT
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has discussed a potential summer transfer target, Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham, and described him as 'exceptional'. The 19-year-old could move on this summer and impressed for England at the recent 2022 Qatar World Cup. The German also admitted that finishing out of the top four could prove costly in the summer transfer window.
Jude Bellingham
Image credit: Getty Images
Jurgen Klopp has described rumoured Liverpool target Jude Bellingham as an ‘exceptional’ talent.
Liverpool are understood to be in the running for the 19-year-old, who was arguably England's most impressive player at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
His current club Borussia Dortmund are reportedly ready to sell him. A £100 million valuation has been mentioned but there are suggestions the Bundesliga side would do business with an upfront payment of just £83m, and a structured deal could cost as much as £130m.
Dortmund’s hopes of getting the top end of any deal may depend on more than one club bidding for his services, with Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea all reportedly in connection with Bellingham.
Klopp is openly a fan of the player and, speaking ahead of the Boxing Day fixtures, he would not put a number on his value.
"I don't like to talk about money when you talk about a player like him. Everyone can see he is just exceptional," he told the press.
"If you mention to someone who has no clue about football, or who knows about football and has not watched it for a while (and ask) '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 maturely. He played an exceptional World Cup. Absolutely exceptional.
"With all the things he has and things he can improve, to describe him I would say the things he can do are difficult to learn, and the things he can improve are easy to learn.
"So, yes, he is a really good player. What can I say? I have thought that already for two or three years since he had his breakthrough at Dortmund.
"Everybody knew already but I have no idea what that means for the money side of it.
"I really think if we all want to do him a favour then we do not talk too much about money. I mean that from an England point of view. Do not throw any hurdles in his development."
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‘I am positive’ - Klopp confident any Liverpool sale will not impact on his plans
With Liverpool currently in sixth and out of the Champions League spots, they might find it hard to convince Bellingham to join them, and it is a situation Klopp wants to change.
"It is very important for the club and that is our main target now," he confirmed.
"It is important but you ask it from a transfer perspective? Yes. Again, generally we have a good chance to qualify for the Champions League.
"Will it happen this year? I don't know. But 100 per cent we are one of the contenders for the next few years again.
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Jürgen Klopp
Image credit: Getty Images
"If you ask a player and he says, 'Next year you are not in the Champions League and I would prefer to go to a football club who plays this year and maybe not next year' then I am not sure I would still want this player to be honest.
"I understand it 100 per cent - I want to be in the Champions League all the time. For the moment we have two pathways still to qualify for the Champions League next year.
"As long as that is the case, I see ourselves as proper contenders for the Champions League qualification. If not, then we can speak about that."
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