Harry Redknapp has revealed he has "heard" Jude Bellingham is off to Real Madrid after Liverpool ended their pursuit of the England international.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham, 19, was widely reported to be a top target for the Reds this summer. But news emerged earlier this week that the club will now be targeting several signings in the next window rather than committing the bulk of the budget on one superstar.
Redknapp, the father of former Liverpool star Jamie, is at Aintree today to cheer on a horse he owns in the Grand National. Back On The Lash has seen significant support in the lead up to the big race at 5.15pm, with odds now around the 22/1 mark.
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Speaking to the ECHO's Ryan Paton this afternoon, Redknapp said: "He was already named Back On The Lash when I bought him. Hopefully he'll be alright [in the Grand National]. He needs firm-ish ground really, but I hope he runs ok.
"I've got three runners in the race before [including] Shakem Up'Arry. I used to have a bloke stand behind me at West Ham and for 90 minutes he'd shout at me 'shake them up Harry!' when I was a manager, so I called this horse Shakem Up'Arry."
Asked about his fondness for the city and its clubs, Redknapp said: "I love Liverpool. I love Anfield. I used to love going to Anfield. The atmosphere, the fans when they sing You'll Never Walk Alone...there's nowhere in the world like it."
On the Reds and Blues, the 76-year-old added: "Some of the [Liverpool] players have just not reached the heights we're used to seeing them play. They've got a fantastic team, great manager. But they've fell way below the standards they are normally up to. Jurgen [Klopp] I'm sure will look at it, at the end of the year and they'll bring some players in and strengthen again for next year.
"Everton are struggling as well at the moment, scrapping away. I hope Sean [Dyche] keeps them up. Lot of time for him."
And delivering his verdict on Liverpool cooling their interest in Bellingham, Redknapp said: "I've heard - I don't know if I'm right - that he wants to go to Real Madrid.
"It's difficult...amazing club again. Good lifestyle in Spain. That's what I've heard anyway."
After his playing days as a midfielder, Redknapp spent more than 30 years in professional management with spells at Portsmouth, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur as well as several other sides.
His horse Back On The Lash is trained by Martin Keighley and will be ridden by jockey Adam Wedge in the Grand National later today.
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