Liverpool are the apparent frontrunners to sign Jude Bellingham, Dharmesh Sheth has told GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

The Reds signed a central midfielder in the final throes of the summer transfer window, bringing in Arthur on loan from Juventus on Deadline Day.

However, part of the reason why they didn't make a major permanent addition in that department is that they were biding their time in the hope of landing Borussia Dortmund gem Bellingham in 2023 (via The Athletic).

The Englishman has been identified as the Reds' top target for next summer's transfer window.

The latest

Sky Sports journalist Sheth says that Bellingham could be at the centre of one of next summer's biggest transfer stories and claims that, as things stand, Liverpool appear to be leading the race for his signature.

He told GiveMeSport: “Next summer, I think the topic of Jude Bellingham is going to be very, very hot.

“It seems that Liverpool are the favourites to sign him. It has been talked about for the last year or so.”

The verdict

According to a recent report from The Athletic, Bellingham could cost as much as £131m. A transfer of that amount would make him the third-most expensive player in the history of football, behind only Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

The figures being bandied about are eye-watering, but it's hard to argue that Bellingham wouldn't be worth it.

Crowned football's best wonderkid by Goal earlier this year, the former Birmingham City gem won the Bundesliga's Newcomer of the Year Award and earned a place in the Team of the Season in his first campaign in the German top flight.

Not turning 20 until next June, that's a marker of just how special a talent he already is.