According to former midfielder Dietmar Hamann, Jude Bellingham’s signing poses a “big risk” for Liverpool due to his price.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are among several clubs showing interest in the Borussia Dortmund midfielder, whose impressive World Cup performance against England has drawn further attention.
Real Madrid are reportedly eyeing Bellingham, with Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi confirming his club’s interest in the 19-year-old.
Therefore, Liverpool may have to pay a record amount to use Bellingham’s services.
Although Hamann considers Bellingham an interesting player, he urged his former club to exercise caution.
“I’d be careful with Bellingham right now. He is an exceptional talent, he showed it at the World Cup, but if Dortmund demand £100m, £140-150m, that is also a big risk,” he told Talksport.
“I think he needs to find a place in Bellingham. He models himself as Steven Gerrard, but I don’t think he has the ability and forward speed that Gerrard has.
“I think you have to wait and see where he finds his place in midfield in second or third midfield in the future and paying £150m for an 18 or 19 year old player, I think that’s a big risk.”
20/20 – Cody Gakpo has scored 21 goals and provided 25 assists in 41 Dutch Eredivisie games since the start of last season; he is the only player in Europe’s top 10 leagues to score 20+ goals and 20+ assists since the start of the 2021/22 season. Visionary. pic.twitter.com/BixDo4tGkv
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 27, 2022
Liverpool have already taken steps to strengthen their squad ahead of the mid-season transfer window, with PSV confirming their agreement with the Reds on a deal that would see Cody Gakpo go to Anfield.
The 23-year-old drew attention for his exploits for the Netherlands in Qatar 2022, where he became the first Dutch player to score in his first three World Cup games.
“They have needed a player like him for the last few years. I don’t think they have enough goalscoring threat from midfield,” Hamann added about Gakpo.
“They always pose a threat from set pieces and this will be reinforced by his size and physicality. And in midfield, sometimes it seems to me that they lack physical preparation.
“They don’t have a player with the same physical strength as him. I always look at Joelinton as a player that Liverpool need because he can dribble from midfield, he can head, he’s very good technically and he also has some speed.
“He’s a great addition and I hope we see a lot of him in the next few weeks and months.”