When Liverpool were still in the race to sign Jude Bellingham, it was widely expected that the England international would cost a world-record fee well in excess of £100m.
As a result, after the Reds withdrew interest in favour of signing a number of quality new midfielders rather than one marquee addition, supporters were understandably unimpressed when it emerged that Real Madrid were reportedly set to sign the 19-year-old for an initial £85m.
How could Liverpool not afford such a fee, was the simplistic question. After all, the Reds had committed to parting with a potential £85m to land Darwin Nunez only last summer. Yet, the agreed deal with Benfica cost £64m without add-ons. As a result, Virgil van Dijk currently remains the only player to have cost more than £65m in the club’s history.
