Liverpool still have a chance of signing Jude Bellingham even though Real Madrid look like the favourites to snap him up, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Bellingham a wanted man

The 19-year-old is one of the most prized assets in world football currently, already blossoming into a key player for Borussia Dortmund and England.

Liverpool have been endlessly linked with a move for Bellingham but so have numerous other top clubs, with his exit from Dortmund expected next summer.

It feels like it could be the most high-profile transfer saga of 2023 as the teenager weighs up his options.

The Latest: Liverpool move still alive

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones admitted that Madrid looks like Bellingham's most likely destination, but he feels that Liverpool could still have the stature to land him if they make a convincing enough sales pitch and hasn't ruled out the possibility of the teenager coming to Anfield.

The journalist said:

"It’s going to take the sales pitch of the year to stop Jude Bellingham from joining Real Madrid, but Liverpool are a massive club, they’ve got the pull to do that. So until those forms are signed, you can never say never."

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The Verdict: Top-four finish will be crucial

For Liverpool to have any chance of signing Bellingham, there is surely no doubt that they need to secure Champions League football for next season, something which appears to be in the balance this season.

The Englishman will demand to be playing in Europe's top club competition, having already done so with Dortmund, and if the Reds can't promise him that, many other prospective suitors surely could.

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Whether or not Liverpool can even afford the £130m-rated Bellingham remains to be seen - a possible new ownership situation could change that - but if they manage to get a deal over the line, it could be a signing which is eventually as important as the arrivals of Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

The long-term potential and all-round brilliance of the Dortmund gem make him a truly special prospect, and whoever signs him could be getting one of the best players of his generation.