Jordan Henderson hinted at Jude Bellingham’s accomplishment that nobody talks about

Liverpool have been chilled this summer by a switch to Jude Bellingham, but could they still end up at Anfield?

It was news no Liverpool fan wanted, but for now the Reds’ long search for Jude Bellingham is over.

Despite signaled interest from big European names such as Real Madrid and Manchester City, hopes were high that a glamorous offensive at Anfield would convince the 19-year-old midfielder to start in a red shirt at Merseyside next season. But while that prospect excited him, market forces seem to have dictated that such a move was no longer an option for him.

With an RRP of around £130m, plus extras, the Borussia Dortmund star is looking beyond Liverpool’s reach, with a wider summer rebuild now believed to be manager Jurgen Klopp’s preferred pick, rather than all his eggs to throw in the same basket. But while news of a downturn at Bellingham may seem shocking to supporters today, it need not be disastrous tomorrow. There may still be a long game to play here.

Just weeks ago Real Madrid walked away from a big splash of cash against Bellingham, with reports in Spain suggesting there would be no major signings this summer. It could pave the way for City or even Manchester United to fight Bellingham, but another potential outcome is that the signed England midfielder isn’t moved at all.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who has spent a lot of time in England with Bellingham over the past six months, may have even suggested him recently, although it’s clear he would like to see him at Anfield. “Look, I just want him to be the best player possible,” Henderson said. “Of course it would be great if it ended up being Liverpool. But it has to be good for him and it will be any club you can imagine.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who has spent a lot of time in England with Bellingham over the past six months, may have even suggested him recently, although it’s clear he would like to see him at Anfield.

“Look, I just want him to be the best player possible,” Henderson said. “Of course it would be great if it ended up being Liverpool. But it has to suit him and every club you can imagine will want him.

“He has to think about himself and make sure he takes the right decision for his career. But there will be a club that will have him in the end, whether it’s now or in a year or two and that will be a chance for his club.”

The price offered by Bellingham is so high because Dortmund have no obligation to sell. The teenager has a contract until the end of the 2024/25 season and if Liverpool are not in contention for him this summer, they will certainly hope that Europe’s hottest property fans will play in the Bundesliga during another year before finally returning to English football.

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Steven Gerrard and Cafu choose their favorite between Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr and Liverpool’s Mo Salah

Steven Gerrard and Cafu choose their favorite between Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr and Liverpool’s Mo Salah

Football legends Steven Gerrard and Cafu recently shared their favorite player between Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

In an Instagram role, Gerrard and Cafu were to go over to the side of their favorite player’s name. Both legends opted to cast Salah over Vinicius in the clip.

Considering the difference in age and position between the two wingers, it’s arguably a tough comparison.

Salah, 30, plays as a right-winger for Liverpool and has been a sensation since joining from AS Roma in 2017. He scored 180 goals and provided 74 assists in 296 games for the Reds.

The Egyptian winger helped Liverpool win both the UEFA Champions League trophy and the Premier League title after 30 years of waiting.

Vinicius, on the other hand, is only 22 years old and plays as a left winger for Real Madrid. He is widely regarded as one of the best young players in the world since joining Spanish giants Flamengo in 2018.

Vinicius has scored 57 goals and provided 58 assists in 214 games for Real Madrid. With the Blancos he won, among others, a UEFA Champions League trophy and two La Liga titles.

Salah, who may not be in his best form, has scored 35 goals in 42 appearances for the Reds this season. Vinicius has scored 36 goals in 44 games for his club this season.

Liverpool and Real Madrid could make transfers in the summer

According to El Nacional, the Spanish giants are interested in attracting striker Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian striker will leave Liverpool after his contract expires in the summer. The Blancos could therefore sign him on a free transfer.

The 31-year-old Firmino joined from TSG Hoffenheim in 2015 and has been a vital player for the club ever since. He scored 109 goals and provided 79 assists in 359 appearances for Liverpool.

Meanwhile, according to another report from El Nacional, the Reds are interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

The Frenchman was closely linked to the Merseysiders last summer, before Blancos bought him from Monaco for a staggering €100m. However, Tchouameni failed to make a significant impression at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Reds are therefore preparing an offer of 80 million euros for the French international.

The 23-year-old Tchouameni has made 35 appearances for Real Madrid this season and has also provided three assists.

FSG let Liverpool down by withdrawing from Bellingham

Well that’s that then. After all the noise and concern, Liverpool back out of a move for Jude Bellingham. The club have been linked with the Borussia Dortmund midfielder for much of the past year. We reported that meetings were taking place, club legends thought it was formalities, the England international liked the project and he was the favorite rather than the interest of Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Of course, it all fell apart when Fenway Sports Group (FSG) or Jurgen Klopp, or both, decided not to even make a bid. It happened right after a former player tweeted that an offer had been made. And within an hour it looked like Bellingham’s move to Liverpool was as close as it had ever been – until the press releases broke. Systematically, every national journalist covering the club ran the news at length that there would be no move for Bellingham this summer, that there would be no offers and that the transfer fund would instead be split between several players. It was a crude turn of events considering some of the same versions – as FootballTransfers had – expressed Liverpool’s determination to buy Bellingham in the summer window.

That an official embargo and declaration was issued is one thing, but it was certainly orchestrated. The club wanted to make it public that any proceedings against Bellingham – the man they have been pursuing since late last summer – have ended for costs. It remains to be seen whether the splitting of the £130million they allegedly paid BVB between multiple players remains to be seen. It was a lot of money for a footballer, there’s no doubt about that. But the way it’s been handled is downright bizarre: Why short-term intentions of picking your nose for a week before pulling the plug? What has changed? The price was always high and FSG had always known it, so why all of a sudden the problem? And why now, immediately after a strong performance against Premier League leaders Arsenal? Only the club’s senior management know the answer to all these questions: there have been rumors that it could all be a gambit to lower Bellingham’s price, but the club’s top correspondents are using it to ferret out fake news as the negotiating tactic is a very bold tactic move. It’s completely impossible.

Klopp now has to look at other goals

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So where now? We have signaled interest in Mason Mount and Khephren Thuram. Other British media ratified the former, while French publications defended the latter. We learn that Thruam will surely leave Nice this summer. Alexis Mac Allister’s agent and father has a connection to the Reds and other places have indicated there is interest. Moises Caicedo has been featured in other publications and we heard Romeo Lavia was interesting. Kouadio Kone and Liverpool have had discussions but he may still seem a bit too raw.