Liverpool’s recruitment team ‘warned the club about their aging squad’ and advised against blanket contract extensions two years ago…
- Liverpool’s recruiting team have reportedly warned the club about their aging squad
- The Reds have identified Jude Bellingham as a possible solution to that problem
- But it seems they acted too late and fell in the race to sign him
According to reports, the Liverpool recruiting team warned club chiefs about the aging squad almost two years ago.
The Reds have endured a nightmare so far in the 2022/23 season. They are currently eighth in the Premier League and are eliminated from Champions League football.
Their battle for form comes amid a transition period for the club this year, as they deal with an aging midfield and the summer departure of Sadio Mane.
In response, the Reds had long pursued Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham, but ruled themselves out on Tuesday night signing the former Birmingham City player.
Some fans have suggested the Reds need a team refresh to help their rebuild, which Liverpool’s 2021 recruiting team had warned.
Liverpool recruitment staff reportedly warned against offering contracts to the likes of Alisson (L), Jordan Henderson (centre) and Virgil van Dijk (R)
The Reds have reportedly given up on signing Dortmund star Jude Bellingham
According to Sky Sportstwo years ago, the Liverpool recruiting team had expressed concerns that the side was straying from the ‘correct football age’.
The starters had to be supplemented in a slow build-up of the ‘next great team’. Instead, Liverpool ignored their most pressing need.
They also pointed to issues with the blanket contract extensions handed out by the club in the summer of 2021, which have come back to bite them.
Just two years ago, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Alisson Becker all got new deals.
For context, three [Henderson, van Dijk and Alisson] of those six players are now over 30 – while Robertson and Fabinho are both 29 years old.
Their aging team has failed to reproduce the performance many of them have come to expect and the Reds are struggling domestically this year.
They have been heavily linked with a move for Dortmund star Bellingham, given his close relationship with Henderson and Alexander-Arnold, but that move doesn’t appear to be happening.
Liverpool have now pulled out of the fight to sign the 19-year-old, deciding instead to use the money available for a rebuild, rather than what – at over £110million – would be a major signing.
Many had assumed that Bellingham’s close relationship with Jordan Henderson would have persuaded him to join Liverpool in the summer.
However, the 19-year-old England midfielder will still be the subject of an intense bidding war if, as expected, he leaves Borussia Dortmund this summer.
It is clear that Real Madrid are prepared to do whatever it takes to win the race to sign Bellingham this summer, with the Spanish giants viewing Manchester City as their main rivals for his signature.
Sports mail also understands Man United boss Erik ten Hag wants the Premier League giants to battle neighbors City and Real Madrid for the England star.
United are excited about the 19-year-old all-action midfielder, who would command a British record fee. But the situation at Old Trafford is clouded by the ongoing sale and investment process.