Liverpool have transfer fix for 'crazy' Jude Bellingham fight as Jürgen Klopp has long-term plan
Liverpool will have to win a 'crazy' transfer battle if they are to land Jude Bellingham next summer, but Jürgen Klopp has been sitting on a contingency plan.
James MartinLiverpool Writer
03:00, 21 JUL 2022
Veterans of 'Mbappé 2020' know that predicting Liverpool transfer business well in advance does not always end in the desired manner. The rumours crediting Jürgen Klopp with an interest in adding Jude Bellingham to the ranks in 2023 may be more believable, but the move will be anything but straightforward to pull off.
Much like Kylian Mbappé at the time, Bellingham has forged a reputation as one of the most sought-after young players in world football. A crucial difference is that the Borussia Dortmund man is not currently on exorbitant wages, but the battle for his signature is set to be fierce.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Liverpool and Klopp tried to head off this competition by making an approach this summer. However, this was rebuffed, setting up a major scramble next summer:
"Many top clubs will jump in. It will be a crazy race."
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Naturally, the hope is that Liverpool win this race. There are precious few teams in world football who can boast a better competitive standing at present. Equally, FSG will not be shy of stumping up the required transfer fee. As for Bellingham himself, he has appeared to signal admiration for the club in the past.
But there needs to be a pinch of realism. Klopp waits for his top targets, but he is also pragmatic: if a player is unattainable, he will find a suitable alternative. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané are the ultimate 'second-choice' signings. FSG know that Liverpool could be blown out of the water if the Bellingham battle descends into a fight over who can pay the biggest wages, and they must be ready for that eventuality.
Thankfully, Klopp has been prepared for some time.
Identifying transfer targets is very much a collaborative process between club and manager, but one name in particular regularly gets associated with Klopp. Florian Neuhaus was linked repeatedly with Liverpool last summer, and the reports all seemed to suggest that the coach was enamoured with his compatriot.
Things went quiet on this front once the transfer window shut, and Neuhaus himself enjoyed a rather under-the-radar campaign. But while he may not have been turning heads, Liverpool will undoubtedly have continued to monitor him, and the latest reports suggest that Klopp is still a fan.
A story from Fichajes claims that Klopp 'wants Neuhaus in Liverpool', with the goal of improving the midfield. That seems to fly counter to the manager's bullish remarks about his existing options in the centre of the park — but there is a way that the two positions can be reconciled.
If Neuhaus is indeed still on the radar, it is surely as a potential option for next summer. It seems clear that Liverpool will at least try for Bellingham, but they will still need to recruit if they are unable to land the Dortmund star. The Borussia Mönchengladbach man could be the answer.
After all, Neuhaus has plenty in common with his Bundesliga colleague. At 25, he is approaching his prime, so he does not come with the same exciting potential. But in terms of the current package, he is a very comparable player.
Bellingham features in Neuhaus' top 10 most statistically similar players on FBRef, and it is not hard to see why. The Mönchengladbach midfielder is a fellow all-rounder. He is a major goal threat, ranking in the 95th percentile of midfielders in Europe's top five leagues for expected goals per 90. He lays on chances for others, with an assist tally in the 87th percentile. At the same time, he is an effective defensive presence.
Neuhaus sits in the 92nd percentile for blocks, the 72nd percentile for interceptions and the 58th percentile for tackles. He is also a good progressor of the ball. He has been deployed everywhere from defensive midfield to false nine, demonstrating the versatile skill-set for which Klopp is hunting.
Liverpool fans would inevitably feel underwhelmed if it was Neuhaus rather than Bellingham who joined next summer, but there is nothing wrong with contingency planning. The German is firmly second-choice, but he has done enough to both capture and hold the attention of Klopp: that in itself is a pretty strong endorsement.
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