11 April 2023 , 20:00
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Liverpool have switched their attentions away from Jude Bellingham due to the size and scale of the rebuild needed at Anfield this summer.
The Reds have long been linked with a move for the England international, but with the 19-year-old expected to cost more than £100m, the club have decided that the time and money it would take to pull off his signing could better be spent elsewhere.
Bellingham remains a target for Manchester City and Real Madrid, and with the Reds currently lacking the resources to compete with those clubs they are well aware that a pursuit of Bellingham could end up being fruitless.
Liverpool's disappointing season has led to calls for major rebuild at Anfield this summer, with several new additions needed in defence and particularly midfield.
James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all out of contract at the end of the season, while captain Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are in their 30s and Fabinho has struggled for form this season.
Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejected
Bellingham has long been seen as the dream addition for Jurgen Klopp's midfield, but the Reds are ready to turn their attentions to new names who will be easier to obtain.
Bellingham has long been linked with a move for the Reds, but Liverpool have now backed away (Getty Images)The Borussia Dortmund midfielder's England colleague Mason Mount is one player Liverpool are known to be keen on, and getting him from Stamford Bridge is set to be decidedly simpler due to Chelsea's issues around Financial Fair Play.
Chelsea and England's Conor Gallagher is another name under consideration, as is Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes, Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch, Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo and the Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans, who will be available on a free transfer in the summer.
Liverpool are set to do business quickly once the transfer window opens, with owners Fenway Sports Group set to provide significant funds to manager Klopp once a minority investment deal in the club is completed.
Klopp has repeatedly spoken about the rebuild that will take place in the summer and the targeting of new players, but speaking on Friday he suggested that the names coming might not necessarily be the biggest.
“Whatever we do next year will never be enough from people’s point of view and your point of view,” he said he told journalists.
“But, yes, with smart recruitment we will improve, definitely. That is the plan.”