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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Mark Wakefield

John Barnes sends blunt transfer message to Liverpool fans amid claim over two 'favourite' midfielders

Liverpool legend John Barnes has sent a transfer message to the club’s fans amid speculation during the January window.

The Reds continue to be linked with a host of potential new signings before the end of the month. Cody Gakpo has already arrived on a deal from PSV Eindhoven, but that is not stopping rumours of other possible new additions.

Jude Bellingham, Enzo Fernandez and Declan Rice are three players whose names have been listed on the Liverpool rumour mill over the last few months. Midfield is the area of the pitch where the Reds are seeing intense links and transfer speculation.

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Barnes though has sent a message to Liverpool fans who want to see the club splash a large amount of money on new signings this month. The Reds legend went on to name the two players he would like to see move to Anfield.

“It’s not the fans’ money, fans can’t demand who Liverpool should sign, it’s up to Jurgen Klopp,” Barnes told BonusCodeBets.

“If Klopp wants to sign Enzo Fernandez or Jude Bellingham then fair enough. They would be two fantastic players for Liverpool, but fans demanding they sign them is crazy, especially while other clubs are interested in them.

“If Klopp demands it, hopefully, we’ll be able to sign them. The Liverpool midfield is what needs to be improved.

“We don’t know where Declan Rice will go, it would be a blow for Arsenal and Liverpool if either club missed out on signing him. It’s all speculation at the moment, we don’t know where he will go yet.

“Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are my two favourite midfield players currently, but I don’t think either of them will be moving in January. West Ham will be asking ridiculous prices for Rice considering where they are positioned in the league table at the moment.

“If someone else is prepared to pay £100m, £200m or £300m for those midfielders, then Liverpool can’t match those prices. Every club has their own valuation of a player, if one club is willing to go higher, then any club can either match the price but it depends on their valuation of the player.

“Mykhailo Mudryk was more valuable to Chelsea than he was to Arsenal which is why Chelsea ended up spending more money and buying him. Arsenal did the right thing because they stuck to their valuation.”

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