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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Mark Wakefield

Liverpool facing major Jude Bellingham transfer dilemma ahead of summer window

Despite not playing for Liverpool, Jude Bellingham is arguably more talked about than any member of Jurgen Klopp's squad right now.

And yet, there is still no certainty over whether the Reds will move to sign the midfielder this summer, let alone get a deal over the line.

Various reports have suggested how much Borussia Dortmund will demand from clubs interested in prising their star asset away from the Bundesliga. The general figures seem to be in the region of £100m-£130m.

READ MORE: Liverpool press ahead with Jude Bellingham transfer bid but uncertainty surrounds summer plans

READ MORE: Liverpool can sign Ibrahima Konate's long-term partner for free

Liverpool are not alone in showing an interest in Bellingham. They are joined by the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Manchester United, to name just a few.

That's understandable. The 19-year-old is regarded as one of the best young players in the world and would be expected to become a fixture in whatever team he eventually moves to for years to come.

The Reds, perhaps more than any of their rivals in what has already developed into a transfer saga, need Bellingham. Despite this, there are still dilemmas that Klopp and the powers that be at Anfield will have to think about before committing such a large amount of money on one player.

Everyone knows that Liverpool’s midfield is in need of a major rebuild. Klopp knows it. FSG will know it. The fans certainly know it.

But one player will not be enough. Signing Bellingham would help, of course, but would he really be the answer to all of the Reds' problems on his own? Of course he wouldn't.

The exact amount of signings that Liverpool need is a matter of opinion. But what cannot be argued is that the answer will be more than one.

With that in mind, were the Reds to sign Bellingham, it would be for a club record and you would think that it would take up a significant portion of their transfer budget. And just what transfer budget Klopp will have to play with could well depend on whether he can steer his side to Champions League qualification. Should they miss out on a top-four finish in the Premier League, surely it will have an impact on just how much he can spend. Not forgetting, it could also have an impact on whether transfer targets want to join or not.

Given what Liverpool have achieved under Klopp, you would hope that's not the case. But there's no doubt that the Reds are going to have to be shrewd in the way they conduct their business this summer. It's something they have been able to do in the past, but with rival clubs like City and United likely to spend big again, it makes the job all the more difficult.

So do the Reds throw all their eggs in the same basket with regards a player who could go on to be the best in his position in the world? Or do they drop out of the Bellingham race and instead use the money to get two, three or four midfielders that would significantly improve the quality and depth of the squad.

Bellingham is showing all the signs of being a generational talent that not many clubs will ever have the chance of signing. Liverpool are fully aware of this, but knowing his signing alone may not be enough, it makes it even more of a head-scratcher.

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