Liverpool set to miss out on Jude Bellingham transfer leaving Man City and Real Madrid to battle it out
LIVERPOOL are set to miss out on Jude Bellingham, according to reports.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder is one of the hottest young talents in world football.
But state the Anfield club look on course to back out of the bidding process.
And that will leave Manchester City and Real Madrid to battle it out for the England star.
Manchester United have also been linked but may have to settle for an alternative option, such as Mason Mount.
Bellingham, 19, is expected to leave Signal Iduna Park at the end of the season - despite his club being desperate to keep him for another year.
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It would be the third summer in a row Dortmund have lost a major player following Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland's exits.
Bellingham is under contract until 2025 and there is no release clause.
Therefore, any club wanting to land him would likely need to fork out more than £100million.
Liverpool, and in particular Jurgen Klopp, are long-term admirers of the 22-cap international.
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However, their financial situation compared to the likes of City and Real means there will be unable to compete and offer the same terms to both Dortmund and Bellingham.
And with the Reds seven points off the top four, there is a high chance they will end this disappointing season both trophyless and having failed to qualify for the Champions League next term.
Bellingham scored in his first four Group G games in the competition this term and also chipped in with an assist.
However, if the Reds do miss out on Bellingham, they will need to find a new midfielder with THREE set to leave in the summer.
That is because Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are out of contract with new deals unlikely while Arthur Melo's loan from Juventus will expire.
James Milner's deal is also up this summer while Thiago's currently runs until 2024.
Like United, Liverpool could swoop for Mount as he enters the final 12 months of his Chelsea contract with talks over an extension stalling.
