Liverpool have been “greatly” encouraged by the cost of Jude Bellingham’s transfer to Real Madrid and what it means for their own midfield summer rebuild, sources said to Football Insider.
The England superstar, 19, is on the verge of joining the Spanish giants from Borussia Dortmund in a deal reportedly worth £88.5million plus add-ons which could be around £26m.
Even the total cost of the deal is significantly less than the £130m figure that was being widely suggested in the wake of Bellingham’s stellar showing at the World Cup last December.
That is a major boost to Liverpool, sources have said, as the early signs are that the value of transfers has not exploded this summer in the same way as many had predicted, and that the effect of Chelsea’s massive spending in the last year has not artificially amounted to inflation in the market.
This will suit the elite clubs getting ready to spend big this summer, and means many of their top targets will not be beyond reach.
Bellingham, who agreed to join Los Blancos after Liverpool withdrew from the race to sign him, will have a medical before finalizing the transfer on a six-year contract.
The Spanish club waited until Dortmund had finished their season before moving on to the final parts of the deal. They intend to announce the move in coming days.
Liverpool pulled out from the race because the cost, including a salary worth well in excess of £250,000-a-week, would have restricted the planned overhaul of Jurgen Klopp’s squad this summer.
The Merseysiders have already signed Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for an initial £35m rising to £55m-£60m with add-ons.
They are also holding initial talks over other midfielder deals including for Borussia Monchengladbach star Manu Kone, 22, and OGC Nice ace Kephren Thuram, who is also 22.
The duo fit the profile of midfielder Klopp wants to integrate to his squad for the 2023-24 season in what is shaping up to be the club’s biggest revamp in years.
