Jude Bellingham’s future remains the subject of constant speculation with the England international highly likely to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer.
With Liverpool in need of a major midfield revamp, he is Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice target to strengthen their engine-room, with the Reds ultimately opting to wait for the 19-year-old to become available rather than recruiting a new midfielder last summer or in January.
Whether they live to regret such a decision remains to be seen, with their struggles this season leaving them in serious doubt of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Meanwhile, FSG’s search for new investors has prompted further scrutiny regarding whether Liverpool could even afford the midfielder with Dortmund set to demand over £100m.
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Meanwhile, the Reds aren’t Bellingham’s sole suitors with the likes of Man City and Real Madrid also said to be fighting hard for his signature. Reports across the continent continue to emerge almost on a daily basis, suggesting new twists and turns with a different side each time said to be leading the chase.
As a result, Bellingham’s future remains very much up in the air, with Goal reporting last month that there has been little from the player or his camp to suggest a decision has been made regarding his future, with the midfielder instead eager to focus his attention on the remainder of this season with Dortmund. Such a stance will only prompt further speculation, of course, though you have to admire how immune the 19-year-old continues to be to such potential uncertainty. In the meantime, suitors and supporters alike will just have to wait for his eventual decision regarding his next move.
But while no decision has yet been made, publicly at least, the charm offensives will no doubt continue behind the scenes. After all, a couple of months ago the majority of Kopites would have felt confident that Liverpool would succeed in signing Bellingham, having seen him as thick as thieves with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson when away with England at the 2022 World Cup.
While suggestions of ‘Agent Trent’ and ‘Agent Hendo’ are tongue-in-cheek, it’s logical to assume that they will have informally discussed the Reds and Klopp with the Liverpool transfer target at one point or another. At the very least, the close bonds between the trio were there for all to see out in Qatar with it yet to be seen how much of an impact that could have on Bellingham’s decision.
Admittedly, they aren’t the only players from a potential suitor he could have in his ear. Former Borussia Dortmund team-mates Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji are both now Man City players, while there were five players from Pep Guardiola’s ranks in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.
Yet Liverpool could have a further ‘agent’ up their sleeve to help sway Bellingham, and one who perhaps owes them a favour.
Emre Can left the Reds at the end of his contract in the summer of 2018 after four years at Anfield, as he signed for Juventus on a Bosman transfer. There were suggestions that a poor relationship with Klopp might have played a part in his exit, but he was nothing but positive about Liverpool and his former manager when explaining his decision to leave, revealing he was still in touch with his compatriot.
“Not a lot of managers would let you play so many times when you are in the final year of your contract.” Can admitted to BBC Sport the same summer. “My relationship with Klopp was always good. He wished me all the best when I told him I was leaving.
“But I always did my best. I always wanted to help the team. That is what he saw. That is why he kept faith with me.”
“He was disappointed. He wanted me to stay in Liverpool, but accepted my decision," Can told Goal in April 2019. "He also knew that it was not a decision against him or against Liverpool, but for a new challenge at Juventus.
"I had a wonderful and memorable time in Liverpool and will always be grateful to all the people who have supported me there. I am still in touch with Jurgen Klopp."
Meanwhile, he would wax lyrical about Klopp in an interview with Borussia Dortmund Fan Club London in December 2021.
“Jurgen is totally unique in his own way,” Can said. “What I like about ‘Kloppo’ is he has great human qualities and is also well-read and has broad interests off the pitch, you can talk to him about anything.
“We have things in common, and I for one can confirm for sure that I had some great times in his coaching sessions. Klopp is one of a kind, but he is also the most demanding coach I have worked with so far.
“Klopp expects above all teamwork, he wants each player to do what is needed in the interests of the team’s performance. If you put your effort in, Jurgen is getting what he wants and you can tell, when he’s got a smile on his face you know things are going well.”
Can’s time in Turin would ultimately not work out and, after being frozen out in his second season with Juventus by new manager Maurizio Sarri, he joined Borussia Dortmund on loan in January 2020 before signing permanently in a €25m deal the following summer.
"I am happy for BVB and Emre Can. It's a win-win situation. Emre is just a perfect match for this club," Klopp told Bild after his compatriot joined his former club.
"BVB got a top lad, a wonderful, versatile footballer with an outstanding attitude. I trust them to achieve a lot in the Ruckrunde (second half of the season) with Can and Haaland."
With Klopp enjoying seven successful years with Dortmund, Can would reveal his new club spoke to the Liverpool boss before making their move for the German as he thanked his old manager for his recommendation.
"I know that the club had contact with Jurgen Klopp,” he told Kicker in March 2020. "I am pleased that Jurgen, one of the greatest coaches in the world, must have made a positive judgement about me.
"After a good two and a half years of working together, he knows me very well."
Now 29, Can has been an important player for Dortmund for three years. The German has made 106 appearances for BVB to date, won the DFB-Pokal with them in 2021, and has helped them continue at the top end of the Bundesliga table and compete regularly in the Champions League.
The majority of Can’s game-time with Dortmund has come in midfield, with Bellingham one of the players he has taken to the pitch with most. From all of his BVB team-mates past and present, he has lined up 79 times with the England international, only playing alongside Julian Brandt and Mats Hummels more. Meanwhile, it's only the latter who can better their total of on-field 4,824 minutes together.
As a result, they have huge admiration for each other with Bellingham singling out his team-mate’s vital performance in their 1-0 win over Chelsea on Wednesday night.
"When you make plays like that you deserve all of the credit,” Bellingham told BT Sport. "He (Can) plays in a position where he maybe gets overlooked sometimes, but we know how important he is for the team. It was another game-winning block and I told him that. I hope he knows he had a brilliant game."
Meanwhile, Can has been wowed by Bellingham since he first joined Dortmund as a 17-year-old from Birmingham City in 2020.
“If you look at Moukoko, for example, he’s 16 and if you see his quality in training its crazy. You see Bellingham, still 17 and Gio Reyna just turned 18,” he told DAZN. “It’s crazy how young they are and how good they are. It's difficult to find another team in the world with so many talents of that quality.”
It’s clear the admiration the pair have for each other, while Can inevitably won’t want to see Bellingham leave Dortmund anytime soon. Yet if the England international is to depart, his fellow midfielder is perhaps one player he will look to seek counsel from.
One of only three Dortmund players to have played in the Premier League, along with Sebastien Haller and Anthony Modeste, his time in the English top-flight was by far the most successful. Meanwhile, along with Marco Reus, he is well-placed to reveal all about playing for Klopp, and will provide ringing endorsements about playing for Liverpool also.
Bellingham might have England team-mates trying to persuade him why the Reds are the club for him, but Can will potentially hold more influence. With Klopp recommending the former Liverpool man to Borussia Dortmund in the first place, it’s time for 'Agent Emre' to return the favour.
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