Glen Johnson believes Liverpool can still sign Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham if they miss out on Champions League football.
The Reds have made a stuttering start to the campaign and currently sit 14 points off the pace after Arsenal became the second side to inflict a blemish on their record.
Their slow start has coincided with injuries and loss of form with Liverpool picking up more draws than wins after eight Premier League games this season. But a player who is catching the attention is English starlet, Bellingham.
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The 19-year-old became the youngest Bundesliga captain ever when he took the armband for their trip to Koln. On Tuesday, he continued his perfect record in the Champions League as his equaliser made it four goals in as many matches.
Former Reds defender, Johnson, believes even if his old side do slip outside the top four, they could still win the race to sign Bellingham - even if it means paying more money.
"It’ll either be done or they’ll have to pay him even more money than they planned to," he told BettingOdds.com. "They’re going to have to encourage him to miss out on playing in the Champions League for a season.
"Even if they do finish outside the top four, it’s not like it’s going to be the same every year is it? You’d think they’d be straight back there the following year. It will cost them more money if they miss out on the top four this season, but I believe they can still sign him."
His comments come in light of Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, questioning whether Anfield could be enough to attract the highly-rated midfielder. Real Madrid are said to be among the front runners to land the Birmingham City academy graduate.
Wright was unsure whether Liverpool had its attraction without the lure of Champions League football, he told the Kelly and Wright show: "Liverpool are now in a very precarious position.
"Which is why I want Liverpool to just focus on getting the top four because that still gives them Champions League football and the attraction of bringing the top players in. They need to get in the Champions League to even have a thought about approaching Jude Bellingham. Their focus has to be on getting into the top four.
"He’s been linked with Real Madrid, that’s the level he’s at. He could go to literally any club in the world. But we’re looking at a Liverpool team in a transitional period. How are you going to be able to entice him against Manchester City and Real Madrid who can both say ‘look at who we’ve got’?. They both could dominate for the next 10 years.
"The problem for Liverpool is that Jude Bellingham has the pick of the greatest [teams in the world] at the moment. How do you sell Liverpool to him? You’re going to need other players alongside him so you can say, ‘we’re going to get back to that level’."
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