Paul Merson says Jude Bellingham may still go to Liverpool even if they don’t get Champions League
‘My feeling is he likes a challenge’: Paul Merson rejects Rio Ferdinand’s claims that Jude Bellingham will NOT move to Liverpool if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, claiming ‘it’s not about money, it’s about performance”
- Paul Merson says he thinks Jude Bellingham will still go to Liverpool this summer
- He may not choose to move if the Reds fail to qualify for the Champions League
- Merson believes the Dortmund star will take a year out of competition
Paul Merson has denied claims that Jude Bellingham will not move to Liverpool if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
The Borussia Dortmund star’s contract is set to expire in 2025, but several clubs, including Liverpool and Real Madrid, have been heavily linked to sign him this summer.
Earlier in the week, Rio Ferdinand suggested the 19-year-old could snub the Reds after their disappointing Champions League crash at the Spanish giants on Wednesday night.
Liverpool currently sit sixth in the Premier League, six points away from a Champions League spot, and doubts are beginning to emerge as to whether they can qualify for European competition, as last weekend’s defeat to Bournemouth pushed them further back in the standings.
Ferdinand told BT Sport: ‘If Real Madrid is for me and Liverpool, there’s only one place I can go’, and they [Liverpool] don’t end up in the Champions League too, maybe.
Paul Merson claims Jude Bellingham (pictured) can still move to Liverpool this summer
Rio Ferdinand (pictured) had suggested that Bellingham might not want to go to Anfield if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.
But Merson disagrees, saying Bellingham may “like the challenge” of moving to Liverpool.
As a player, nothing to do with my loyalties to United or Liverpool, you look at it coldly and say, “I see more trophies here.” [at Madrid]”.’
Reports suggest the 19-year-old could be available for around £127m, with SportsMail reporting that Madrid had made contact with the England midfielder last week.
But heeding the former Manchester United defender’s claims, Merson disagreed, stating that Bellingham was “not a selfish player” and was “ready for the challenge” at Anfield.
“I understand where Rio Ferdinand is coming from when he says that Jude Bellingham will choose Real Madrid over Liverpool on the basis of their Champions League round of 16 clash,” the former Arsenal midfielder wrote in his column in the daily star.
“But I’ve read stories about Bellingham and his family and all they were ever interested in was making sure he played football when they chose Borussia Dortmund over Man United.”
A year out of the Champions League at 19 is not going to define his career if Liverpool miss out on fourth place. He is not a selfish player and I think he likes the challenge.”
The Birmingham City academy graduate has, for some time, been touted as one of the most exciting young prospects in world football.
Since joining the Bundesliga club in 2020, the box-to-box midfielder has scored 20 times in 123 appearances for the club, but has mostly impressed with his excellent ball skills and maturity, which goes well beyond of his age.
Ferdinand also praised the midfielder in November, stating he “could now captain England” after becoming one of the standout players during England’s 2022 World Cup run.
Dubbed the ‘world’s oldest 19-year-old’ by his manager Edin Terzic, he also happened to captain the Bundesliga side this season.
And for Merson, his maturity and solid nature may mean he’d be happy to take a year out of the Champions League to play for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Jurgen Klopp’s team was eliminated this Wednesday from the Champions League against Real Madrid
Bellingham’s contract expires in 2025 with several big clubs in the race to acquire him
Bellingham has now been called up to Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 qualifying squad
“It’s fine to play in the Champions League, but what’s the point if you don’t win it anyway? He’s an example for all the kids, it’s not about money, it’s about acting.
I still think he could swallow a year out of the Champions League if Liverpool don’t qualify. He has a very long career ahead of him.
Several clubs will be in the market for a new midfielder this summer, and Manchester United are now also set to join the race to sign Bellingham.
But it seems the Dortmund superstar will most likely move to Real Madrid or Liverpool, who earlier this week was included in Gareth Southgate’s 25-man squad for England’s upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy. and Ukraine.
