After a failed attempt in the summer, Liverpool know that Jude Bellingham is probably out of reach forever now. But he could still lead the Reds to a good transfer.
Everything Jude Bellingham has touched since his Real Madrid move has turned to gold. As such, few would bet against his predictions for future winners of the Golden Boy prize — made in the wake of scooping the award for himself.
Admittedly, there was more than a hint of bias on display, with Liverpool unlikely to be deploying the scouts straight away on the back of Bellingham’s recommendations.
The one-time Anfield transfer target name-checked his brother, as well as Real Madrid teammate Arda Güler, and former Borussia Dortmund colleague Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
He also paid homage to runner-up Jamal Musiala, with whom he shared a dressing room at youth international level before the Bayern Munich star switched his allegiance to Germany. Interestingly, Liverpool are already well aware of him, with transfer rumors persisting (per Christian Falk of Sport BILD).
And while Bellingham’s perspective on the others may be a little skewed, he looks to have a decent eye for talent. His younger brother Jobe proved that on Tuesday night, scoring the winner as Sunderland dragged Leeds United firmly back into the playoff scrap.
As it happens, Liverpool have also previously been linked to this Bellingham brother (Mirror). That story predated his switch to Sunderland from Birmingham City in the summer, and many assumed that if there was any truth in it, it was as part of a ploy to attract Jude to Anfield.
But even with Bellingham the elder thriving at Real Madrid and long since out of sight, Liverpool should continue to keep an eye on Jobe. And while the 18-year-old is setting about justifying his brother’s faith in his talents, he is also proving him wrong in one way.
After winning his prize, Jude Bellingham referred to Jobe as ‘a thoroughbred striker like our father’ (AS). Yet Jobe Bellingham’s goal for Sunderland came in a more withdrawn role — not too dissimilar to his brother’s, in fact.
Asked about his position, Jobe expressed maturity beyond his years. “Today I think the game required me to go deeper,” he told Sky Sports. “If that’s what the game requires, you have to do it.
“Like I said to you before, I can use my skill set to play up front, in midfield, even out wide as well. I’ll just play anywhere the manager and the coaches want me to play, and I’ll work my hardest.”
That’s an answer Jürgen Klopp would be proud to hear from any of his players. He loves a versatile attacker, and in fact has been using Cody Gakpo interchangeably in midfield and the front line in much the same manner as Bellingham has been deployed.
Of course, the presence of Gakpo, Darwin Núñez, Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz in the front line, alongside the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott in midfield, means there is no pressing need for Liverpool to pursue Jobe Bellingham for either position right now. In truth, those areas of the pitch look covered for the foreseeable future.
But things can change quickly. And at just 18, it’s certainly worth Liverpool keeping an eye on Jobe Bellingham. He might not turn into the ‘thoroughbred striker’ predicted by Jude, but he looks a serious talent.
