Liverpool remain in a strong position to seal the signing of Borussia Dortmund superstar Jude Bellingham this summer, according to journalist Christian Falk.

The Lowdown: Bellingham the primary target

It has been fairly clear for a while now that the Reds see the 19-year-old as arguably their biggest summer transfer target, as they look to seal a potentially game-changing new midfielder.

Bellingham looks likely to leave Dortmund at the end of the season and Liverpool have been endlessly linked with snapping him up, in what is sure to be a hotly contested race for his signature.

The Reds' current struggles may not be helping their efforts, especially if they miss out on the top four, but a new update certainly offers plenty of encouragement regarding their pursuit of him.

The Latest: Falk drops update

Speaking to Caught Offside, Falk claimed that Liverpool are still very much in the picture for Bellingham, although he is keeping his options open:

"The Premier League remains the first target for Jude Bellingham. I’ve always said Liverpool would be his preferred target but, of course, everyone knows that they’re not doing too well at the moment.

"It’s also a hope for Dortmund still that, if Liverpool aren’t playing in Europe, there’s the possibility of extending Bellingham’s stay by a year. Dortmund has a good chance of winning the Bundesliga, it’s very close. So there could be a chance that Bellingham waits for Liverpool.

"He seems very clear in his plans. I heard that, before Enzo Fernandez’s move to London, Bellingham was looking at what was going on at Chelsea. Chelsea were interested but Bellingham saw there wasn’t a clear plan at the club, so there wasn’t a massive amount of interest in going there.

"Newcastle were interested, that’s for sure, but they’re not in the range of clubs Bellingham’s seriously considering joining in the summer, despite their good form this term.

"If he’s going to leave Dortmund, it will be for a top club, so he’s still keeping an eye on circumstances at Liverpool."

The Verdict: Still feels likely

In truth, Liverpool would feel in a far stronger position with Bellingham if they were looking nailed-on for a top-four finish, but instead, Champions League football now looks highly unlikely next season.

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That could clearly be something that puts the 22-time capped England international off moving to Anfield, but Falk's update suggests that that may not be an issue.

Liverpool simply have to do all they can to sign Bellingham, with the teenager a genuinely special talent who has already racked up 116 appearances for Dortmund, not to mention scoring four goals in this season's Champions League, showing his class on the biggest stage.

He won't solve the Reds' current midfield woes on his own - two or three signings are possibly needed in that area this summer - but he is a player with the potential to be one of the best in the world for the next decade, being called a 'superstar' by Roy Keane.