‘My sensation is he likes the challenge’: Paul Merson shoots down Rio Ferdinand’s statements that Jude Bellingham Is not going to shift to Liverpool if they are unsuccessful to qualify for the Champions League, saying ‘it’s not about money, it is really about performing’
Paul Merson suggests he thinks Jude Bellingham will continue to go to Liverpool this summer He may perhaps not chose to move if the Reds don’t qualify for the Champions League Merson believes that the Dortmund star will choose a yr out of the levels of competition
Paul Merson has shot down promises that Jude Bellingham will not transfer to Liverpool if they do not qualify for the Champions League.
The Borussia Dortmund star’s contract is established to expire in 2025, but various golf equipment, which includes Liverpool and Actual Madrid, have been closely linked to indicator him this summer time.
Before in the week, Rio Ferdinand suggested that the 19-year-outdated could snub the Reds right after they disappointingly crashed out of the Champions League to the Spanish giants on Wednesday evening.
Liverpool at the moment sit sixth in the Premier League, 6 details off a Champions League berth, with thoughts are beginning to rise about whether or not they can qualify for the European competition, with last weekend’s decline to Bournemouth pushing them further more again in the standings.
Ferdinand told BT Sport: ‘If Genuine Madrid are in for me and Liverpool, there is certainly only a person put I can go – and they [Liverpool] never end in the Champions League as properly perhaps.’
Paul Merson statements Jude Bellingham (pictured) may well nevertheless move to Liverpool this summer
Rio Ferdinand (pictured) experienced suggested that Bellingham may perhaps not want to go to Anfield if they do not qualify for the Champions League this year
But Merson has disagreed expressing Bellingham may ‘like the challenge’ of going to Liverpool
‘As a player – almost nothing to do with my allegiances to United or Liverpool – you glance at it cold and you go: “I see far more trophies in this article [at Madrid]”.’
Reports suggest the 19-year-old could be out there for all around £127m, with Sportsmail reporting that Madrid experienced created get hold of with the England midfielder past week.
But having heed of the former Manchester United defender’s claims, Merson disagreed, saying that Bellingham was ‘not an egotistical player’ and was ‘up for the challenge’ at Anfield.
‘I get exactly where Rio Ferdinand is coming from when he says Jude Bellingham will be finding Actual Madrid over Liverpool on the basis of their Champions League knockout clash,’ the former Arsenal midfielder wrote in his column in the Everyday Star.
‘But I have examine stories about Bellingham and his spouse and children and all they were ever intrigued in was ensuring he plays soccer when they picked Borussia Dortmund about Guy United.
‘One 12 months out of the Champions League at 19 isn’t heading to outline his profession if Liverpool overlook out on fourth. He’s not an egotistical participant and my emotion is he likes the challenge.’
The Birmingham City academy graduate has, for some time, been touted as one of planet football’s most thrilling young prospective buyers.
Considering the fact that signing up for the Bundesliga club in 2020, the box-to-box midfielder has scored 20 occasions across 123 appearances for the club, but has primarily impressed with his excellent talents on the ball and his maturity which is way beyond his many years.
Ferdinand also lauded the midfielder again in November, boasting ‘he could be England captain now’ after he grew to become just one of the stand out players in the course of England’s 2022 Earth Cup operate.
Dubbed the ‘world’s oldest 19-yr-old’ by his manager Edin Terzic, he has also absent on to captain the Bundesliga side this year.
And for Merson, his maturity and grounded mother nature may perhaps suggest he would be happy to consider a yr out of the Champions League in order to play for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Jurgen Klopp’s side crashed out of the Champions League on Wednesday to Real Madrid
Bellingham’s deal expires in 2025 with many major golf equipment in the working to receive him
Bellingham has now been named up to Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 qualifiers squad
‘It’s alright enjoying in the Champions League but what’s the level if you do not acquire it anyway? He’s an case in point for each and every child out there, it is not about cash, it can be about undertaking.
‘I nevertheless believe he could swallow a 12 months out of the Champions League if Liverpool will not qualify. He has a very lengthy occupation ahead of him.’
Quite a few clubs will be in the market place for a new midfielder this summer time, with Manchester United now also reportedly set to be a part of the race to signal Bellingham.
But it looks a transfer to both Real Madrid or Liverpool is most likely for the Dortmund superstar, who was previously this 7 days, named in Gareth Southgate’s 25-gentleman squad for England’s forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers towards Italy and Ukraine.