---
title: "Liverpool: Jude Bellingham remains the ‘top priority’"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-jude-bellingham-transfer-rumours-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dominic Lund"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2023-01-23T19:40:24Z"
modified: "2023-01-23T19:40:24Z"
---

# Liverpool: Jude Bellingham remains the ‘top priority’

**[Liverpool](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fc-news/) transfer target [Jude Bellingham](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/jude-bellingham/) remains the club’s ‘top priority’ in the market, according to Fabrizio Romano.**

### The Lowdown: Liverpool’s midfield issues

[Jurgen Klopp](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/jurgen-klopp/) is tasked with reshaping the Reds’ midfield, with several player’s contracts [set to expire](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-liverpool/berateruebersicht/verein/31) in the summer. Meanwhile, captain Jordan Henderson is now 32, and a suitable long-term replacement will be needed.

A recent report from [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/4113167/2023/01/23/liverpool-transfers-kelleher-bellingham/) details that a move for Bellingham may hinge upon Fenway Sports Group selling a minority stake and the new investors injecting large sums of money into the club, with a deal currently considered difficult to pull off.

### The Latest: Bellingham is Liverpool’s “priority”

Speaking to [GIVEMESPORT](https://www.givemesport.com/88107686-liverpool-transfer-news-star-top-priority-anfield), Romano claimed that a number of clubs could still win the race for the Borussia Dortmund star’s signature, which is very much “open”.

He outlined: *“We know the top priority for Liverpool is Jude Bellingham.* *But Real Madrid and Manchester City are also there, so the race is absolutely open. Nothing will be decided in a few hours or days for Bellingham. It takes time.”*

[![Liverpool Transfer News and Rumours](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-2021-03-07T155652Z_1459311687_UP1EH3718ASBK_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LIV-FUL-REPORT.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/liverpool-transfer-news-and-rumours/)

### The Verdict: Champions League football needed

The Reds’ pursuit of the 19-year-old is another example of just how vital it is to secure Champions League football, as a player of his calibre would unlikely be willing to settle for anything less than playing in the continent’s elite club competition.

Hailed as ‘[sensational](https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1599491867988877314?s=20)‘ by Gary Lineker for his performances at the 2022 World Cup and [runner-up](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59454640) in the Kopa Trophy the previous year, the starlet can be considered a generational talent. He is ranked by Sofascore as Borussia Dortmund’s best performer in the Bundesliga this season, boasting an average match rating of [7.43](https://www.sofascore.com/team/football/borussia-dortmund/2673).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”419074″\]

The midfielder particularly specialises in his ability to get on the ball and drive at opposition defences, as indicated by an average of [1.7](https://fbref.com/en/players/57d88cf9/Jude-Bellingham) dribbles completed per 90 over the past year, ranking him in the 96th percentile compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

Liverpool have a real uphill battle in the race for the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) top four, given that they are [ten](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) points adrift of Manchester United, but if they do manage to bridge that gap in the second half of the season, Bellingham would be an unbelievable summer signing to pursue.