Fabrizio Romano says Liverpool's rivals held an interest in Bellingham

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Manchester United have never been close to signing Jude Bellingham.

It has been reported that Liverpool will make a move for the Borussia Dortmund midfielder next summer.

However, things could have panned out very differently had Manchester United had their way, according to Romano.

“Honestly, it was never close between Man United and Bellingham in the past,” the Italian told Caught Offside.

“They were interested alongside many other clubs including Premier League sides and Juventus, but he only wanted Borussia Dortmund as the perfect step for his future – in my opinion, a very smart call.”

Anfield Watch Verdict

Bellingham is a very talented footballer. The midfielder has scored 12 goals and registered 18 assists in 98 appearances for Borussia Dortmund's first-team.

Bellingham has also averaged a WhoScored player rating of 7.38 in the early stages of the 2022-23 Bundesliga campaign.

The 19-year-old is a generational talent. So, we would have been gutted had he ended up at Manchester United.

Bellingham is contracted until the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign. The midfielder possesses a current market value of £72 million.

Therefore, Liverpool will have to spend quite a bit of money if they are to secure Bellingham's services. But, there is no denying that he would be worth the aforementioned figure.

Bellingham could play in Liverpool's midfield for a decade. The Reds possess an ageing midfield.

The likes of Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are in their 30s. So, Bellingham would be a terrific signing for Liverpool.