Steven Gerrard has told Jurgen Klopp he is willing to go the extra mile to ensure Jude Bellingham becomes a Liverpool player.
The Borussia Dortmund superstar has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield and has been pinpointed as the top target to rebuild the Reds midfield. Cody Gakpo has thus far been Liverpool’s only January signing with all signs pointing to the club waiting until the summer to make a big splash in the middle of the park,
But one of the Kop’s greatest ever midfield players has made it clear that if he is needed, he will be on hand to steer Bellingham to Merseyside. "All he needs to do is send his diary to me, when he's got a free day,” Gerrard explained on BT Sport. "I'll fly to Dortmund personally, take him out for a nice dinner and we'll talk about it."
There has been much debate over the make-up of Liverpool’s midfield in recent times, with many attributing the team’s struggles to a lack of quality in that position. Gerrard believes the engine room at his old club has become a bit stale over the years with a lack of depth putting any absences in the headlights.
Gerrard added: “They’ve had some injuries in that department, I think that if Liverpool’s midfield is all fully fit you’ve got Henderson, Fabinho - Fabinho right at it - and the class of Thiago, in top form it’s a very good midfield.
“They’re all experienced, they’ve all had fantastic careers, but I think the thing is if one or two of them is missing then you’re relying on young players, you’re relying on players that haven’t really hit the ground running here at Liverpool like Keita for example.
“It has become a little bit stale in the engine room so that’s why there’s been a lot of talk about midfielders and signings, and will Jurgen go into the transfer market.”
And when asked who Liverpool should turn to refresh their options, Gerrard was effusive in praise of Bellingham, who is valued at more than £100million. “Right now, I think the obvious one is Bellingham off the back of the World Cup and what he’s doing out in Dortmund anyway.
“I’m a huge fan of him, I think the way he comes across, the way he speaks about the game, his performances that I’ve seen every time he impresses me.”
He continued: “He’s the obvious one at the moment because Henderson is adapting his game when he covers Trent [Alexander-Arnold] a little bit on that right-hand side, Thiago is more of a footballer whilst Fabinho stays.
“Liverpool lack this running number eight who can arrive in the box, can get you a goal, who’s got that power, who’s got that burst, who can step aside and really leave someone for dead. Bellingham ticks all them boxes so he’s the obvious one.”
