'Don't think so' - Richard Keys makes controversial…

'Don't think so' - Richard Keys makes controversial Liverpool claims over Jude Bellingham and Virgil van Dijk

Richard Keys has questioned why Jude Bellingham would want to sign for Liverpool after Saturday's showing at Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp's side suffered yet another bad afternoon on their travels, surrendering a one-goal lead to lose 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Picked apart in the second half of the match, the home side scored two quick goals after the restart to put the game out of reach.

This defeat has further dented hopes of a top-four finish, with the Reds now requiring an end-of-season winning run similar to that of the one witnessed during the 2020/21 season to salvage a Champions League spot.

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Failure to qualify for Europe's elite competition may damage plans to recruit Bellingham this summer, a player who Liverpool could desperately do with in central midfield. Unconvinced the England international will end up at Anfield given the way in which the Reds' season is unraveling, Keys posed the following question to Jason McAteer: "I'm Jude Bellingham, sell me Liverpool right now. Why would I join your club next year?"

Making a case for this transfer still taking place, McAteer responded: "First of all, Jude Bellingham is 19 and has the pick of anywhere he wants to go. I don't know whether Barcelona or Real Madrid are, financially, in a situation to take him and offer Dortmund what they want. It's the next step. Even as a 19-year-old, you could pick up an injury tomorrow that could end your career. You take the opportunity when it does come along."

Attempting to provoke a reaction from the ex-Liverpool midfielder, Keys asked: "So the only thing on your mind is the money?"

"No... it's progression," McAteer replied to the beIN SPORTS host. "You don't want to play in the Bundesliga, you want to play in the best league in the world - and that's the Premier League. They [Liverpool] can you offer you moving forward a platform to express yourself. You can't put Liverpool in the same bracket as Borussia Dortmund.

"I don't want to be disrespectful, but it's the Bundesliga and they [Dortmund] have two games a season: Bayern Munich home and away. They don't really feature in the Champions League, they've been knocked out, so does he want to stay there?"

Doubling down on his point Liverpool are currently an undesirable destination, former Sky Sports presenter, Keys, added: "Three of your back four you need to move on, your two full-backs have gone and Van Dijk is not good enough anymore. The three in midfield are either too old or not good enough. It's a huge job. I'm Jude Bellingham looking at that and thinking 'I don't think so'."

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