Gossip: Klopp’s £80m ‘top target’ sparks Liverpool ‘frenzy’

Will Ford
Jude Bellingham Erling Haaland Borussia Dortmund Man Utd
Jude Bellingham Erling Haaland Borussia Dortmund

Klopp has identified his ‘top target’ and the £80m man’s ‘hint’ has sent Liverpool into a ‘frenzy’…

 

A BELLINGHAM FRENZY
Jude Bellingham is now reportedly Jurgen Klopp’s ‘top target’ for Liverpool in a deal that could break the club’s record transfer.

The Reds failed to replace Georginio Wijnaldum, who moved to Paris Saint-Germain this summer, and despite Klopp insisting there is “no gap” in the heart of his midfield, he has set his sights on Bellingham.

That’s according to the Daily Star, who claim Klopp has pinpointed the Borussia Dortmund star as his primary target to fill the void that doesn’t exist…

The report claims Liverpool are prepared to pay a club-record £80m fee for the 18-year-old, who continues to shine for club and country.

Bellingham rejected a move to United in the summer of 2020, in favour of joining Dortmund in a £25m deal.

But he’s more likely to join Liverpool, as this ‘hint’ the Daily Star plucked from some interview very clearly shows – it’s sent the Liverpool fans into a veritable ‘frenzy’.

Asked which former England player he would have liked to have swapped shirts with, Bellingham replied: “Stevie G, easily to be fair. In fact, no it is not easy, I think him or Rooney definitely close.

“But I think I would go Gerrard, though. The No.8, similar position to me, so yeah, I would probably go with him.”

Stop the presses, Bellingham is off to Anfield.

 

ANTONI-OH-NO
Money-bags Paris Saint-Germain don’t appear to need to spend any money these days to put together the best collection of players in world football. It’s all very unfair.

Of course the wages paid to those players in a week would be close to the GDP of a small nation, but still.

Sporting director Leonardo has now got a taste for not spending anything on transfer fees.

Having brought Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Gianluigi Donnarumma to the club for free this summer, the Brazilian is now plotting a move for Chelsea rock Antonio Rudiger, according to Le 10 Sport.

The centre-back that Rio Ferdinand described as an “animal” and the “best defender in the Premier League” is out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, meaning he can speak to potential suitors in January.

The 28-year-old was a vital cog in the Blues’ Champions League success last term and has played every minute in the league so far this season.

Thomas Tuchel will be desperate to keep hold of Rudiger, but contract talks have been taking place for some time now and reports suggest they are no closer to an agreement.

Meanwhile, Chelsea haven’t given up hope of signing Jules Kounde from Sevilla and could return for the Frenchman in January.

But that move was supposed to supplement the centre-backs already at Tuchel’s disposal, rather than replace the very best he’s got right now.