Liverpool learn how to sign Bellingham for ‘less than £100m’ as ‘door opens’ for Haaland repeat

Liverpool have been told that they could sign Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham for “less than £100m” if the midfielder delays his final decision.

The Premier League side have consistently been linked with the midfielder over the past year.

It is known that they are in the market for at least one new midfielder ahead of this summer and Bellingham is understood to be their top target.

Man City and Real Madrid are also interested in the England international, who is among the best young players in the world.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported earlier this week that Liverpool’s chances of signing Bellingham are becoming ‘increasingly unlikely’. 

‘The anticipated fee, the financial power of rival suitors and their reticence about entering a bidding war at the level expected has cast significant doubt on Liverpool’s chances’.

Liverpool are not expected to give up, though. Graeme Bailey is reporting that the chances of Bellingham staying at Dortmund this summer are “growing stronger and stronger”.

The 19-year-old is under contract until 2025 and Bailey claims Bellingham’s “release clause will be less than £100m” if he waits until 2024.

The journalist notes that if Bellingham opts to wait until 2024 to exit Dortmund, it would “open the door” for Liverpool to sign him.

“He comes with a huge wage packet as well Bellingham. From our understanding they (Liverpool) are still in the race, it is where it is. Bellingham, we expect him to make a decision and to tell Dortmund where he is by the end of the month, but some people are saying that it could be by Easter which is a few weeks later,” Bailey said on the Talking Transfers Podcast.

“We don’t know yet, but it will be one of those three clubs [Liverpool, Man City and Real Madrid] if he does go.

“The staying at Dortmund thing is growing stronger and stronger, he’s very happy there and in another 12 months, he can have his own pick of clubs then, his release clause will be less than £100m, look at what Haaland went for.

“If he wants to join Liverpool this may be the hint we all need that he wants to join Liverpool because that opens the door for them.”

Ex-Liverpool attacker Djibril Cisse has argued that his former club “should go for” Bellingham and Chelsea’s Mason Mount.

“I think Liverpool should go for both Mount & Bellingham to be honest. They are two players that can play together. If you can’t do Bellingham, you can do Mount, but in my opinion, you should go for both. They’ve played together for England too, which would help,” Cisse told Betting Sites.

“It’s a lot of money (£170m) but it’s two young really good players so go for both and see who is willing to come.

He added: “Bellingham is really good and hopefully he can be the future of Liverpool and English football. And, yes, he’s a perfect fit as Bellingham can do everything.

“He’s really talented – offensively he’s really effective, really strong and technically very gifted, scores some goals and is hard defensively too. The guy is the perfect player for any team.”

READ MORE: Transfer gossip… PSG meet agents of £130m Man Utd target as new £44m name emerges