A number of Liverpool supporters have been left fuming after a new update suggested the Reds are unlikely to sign Jude Bellingham this summer.
The Lowdown: Liverpool's most wanted
The Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder is one of world football's most highly-rated young players currently, becoming an influential figure for club and country.
It looks likely that Bellingham will end his stay at Dortmund this summer, however, ahead of what could be a high-profile auction for his signature.
Liverpool have emerged as arguably the front-runners to sign the 19-year-old in recent months, with Jurgen Klopp reportedly desperate to land him at the end of the season.
On Monday, however, it was claimed by The Athletic's Ornstein on Twitter that the Reds now look increasingly unlikely to snap up Bellingham this summer, with Real Madrid and Manchester City in a strong financial position to get the deal done:
"As things stand, Liverpool increasingly unlikely to sign Jude Bellingham this summer. Expected price & financial power of rivals puts #LFC hopes in doubt. Pursuit not off & no firm decisions but sense is #MCFC + #RMFC in stronger position."
The Latest: Fans left fuming
These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to reveal their frustration at the news, in what is an undoubted blow for the Reds:
"This would be a fairly humbling/humiliating outcome given how LFC have backed themselves into a corner over signing 'the right' midfielder" - @Hari_Sethi
"Sit back on other potential targets to wait for our number 1 guy while we're competing at the top of the game. Fall off a cliff because we didn't sign anybody and still miss out on target number 1." - @LFCData
"Now if anyone is still backing FSG you need your head tested!!!! They do this all the time! Release information to journalists & we all just take it lying down!!! Think it's time to sell up." - @JasonLFC1979
"I cannot emphasise this enough, this would be the most embarrassing thing for this football club in the past decade." - @donkopleone
"Imagine being at the top & then waiting 2 years for the supposed “right” player & then missing out on them too. All this while we sacrifice results & club position. The club’s pretty much broken from the top." - @rithwikrajendra
"Rinse-Repeat" - @AnfieldIndex
The Verdict: Almighty blow for Reds
It is worth stressing that Liverpool are still far from out of the race to sign Bellingham but this is certainly a concerning update, given how big a transfer target he has been.
To many Reds fans, the club have always considered the one-goal England international to be a likely summer arrival, so to suddenly see him look more likely to head elsewhere is a bitter pill to swallow.
This is a generational footballer who has the ability to become one of the best players on the planet - he already has 20 goals and 24 assists for Dortmund and been hailed as a 'superstar' Roy Keane - so the hope is that there is a fresh twist before the end of the season.