Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is in contact with Jude Bellingham’s father over a potential switch to Anfield this summer.

The Lowdown: Bellingham interest

Bellingham has become one of the household names in world football over the past 18 months, but his reputation has taken another giant step forward after a fantastic World Cup campaign, that saw him bag a goal and an assist in England’s run to the quarter-finals.

The 19-year-old has garnered significant interest from Real Madrid and top Premier League sides - most notably Liverpool, who have made him their priority target (as per Daily Mail).

The Latest: Klopp in contact

Speaking to Sky Sports, Bild TV reporter Valentina Maceri revealed that Klopp has been in contact with the Englishman’s father in a bid to persuade the £130m-valued star to move to Merseyside.

She said: "Our information is his father is talking to Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp wants to sign him at Liverpool. But there’s also Real Madrid and Manchester City in the game; I think everyone wants to have a player like Bellingham, but these three teams are, I think, the leading ones in this poker [game] on Bellingham.

"Klopp said if Bellingham will decide [based on] the money, he’s not going to choose Liverpool, but if Bellingham will decide on his personal development as a player, and on tradition and love of the game, he could decide for Liverpool.

"My gut [feeling] is maybe we could see him at Liverpool."

The Verdict: Do everything possible

The Reds are in dire need of midfield reinforcements with their miserable season currently seeing them sitting in ninth, 10 points behind fourth-placed Newcastle United.

Klopp’s engine room is a shadow of its former self as well, with Fabinho out of sorts from his usual dominating self with an unsettled duo in front of him that’s seen varied partnerships, with main man Thiago only available for 12 of the 18 league games so far.

With wholesale changes in the middle of the park likely to occur as Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Arthur Melo all have their contracts expire at the end of the season, Liverpool will need a new hero to spearhead a rebuild in the summer.

But with the Anfield outfit currently out of range of the top four, it’s no wonder that Klopp appears prepared to convince Bellingham to choose them already, as no Champions League football could leave huge financial doubt on the deal as well as where the player’s ambitions will lie.