Liverpool’s long-standing interest in signing Jude Bellingham appears to be over due to the potential cost involved to complete a deal for the England midfielder.
There’s been no official comment, however it is understood that Liverpool believe paying upwards of £100m on just one player is not the right strategy to rectify the drop off in form they’ve suffered this season.
Liverpool will be active in this summer’s window as they look to overhaul their squad, and are targeting at least two new midfielders.
Jurgen Klopp said last week that the club will improve their on-field chances with smart recruitment – but said now is not the time to focus on the title plans.
“Whatever we do next year will never be enough from people’s point of view and the media’s point of view,” he added.
“But yes, with smart recruitment we will improve definitely. That is the plan.
“We cannot make 24 changes and say, ‘here we go’ not even 10 but it is just that we have to make changes, smart changes, and then we go again.
“We have other moments when we think about what happens next year, but this is not the moment.”
“It is a massive blow for Liverpool. It just shows the direction that both club and player are likely to go this summer. It underlines just how expensive Liverpool expect Bellingham to be.
“He is going to be a record-breaking signing for British football as a midfielder, likely to usurp the £106m that Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez in January.
—Skysports
