Liverpool line up MEGA move for next Jude Bellingham

Liverpool are making a move for a player who is following in the footsteps of Jude Bellingham.

Infamously, the Reds coveted Bellingham for a very long time and did explore a move for him prior to his transfer to Real Madrid but opted not to pursue it.

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Bellingham has since gone onto write history in Madrid and has become an iconic figure for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Liverpool have fared well, too. They brought in three midfielders instead of Bellingham during the summer of 2023 and are now on course to win the Premier League title in Arne Slot's first season.

That title win will bring about a busy summer of activity with Liverpool expected to make plenty of moves in the market as Richard Hughes takes control of the reins at Anfield.

This mission could see Hughes pursuing a move for a young star in the Championship who is the next big prospect coming out of the division and has shades of Bellingham about him.

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Liverpool will of course wish they had pursued a move for Bellingham while he was still at Birmingham City. Back then as a teenager many raised eyebrows when Birmingham retired his numbers after his move to Dortmund.

But his side knew the special talent they had and knew that Bellingham would go onto break records aplenty. Liverpool should have moved for him then but that is in the past.

The Reds will focus on new opportunities and one has presented itself with the emergence of Sunderland's teenage talent, Chris Rigg.

Like Bellingham, the 17-year-old has a lot of mileage and experience in senior football already.

He's made 65 appearances for the first team so far and has 40 appearances in all competitions this season for Sunderland.

Rigg made his debut just less than a month older than Bellingham in the Championship at 16 years, two months and 15 days old.

He's a different profile of course. Rigg can play in midfield but he's better further forward as an attacking midfielders or a winger.

In terms of his suitability for Slot's style of play, there's plenty to like. Rigg wins a lot of balls high up the pitch and he provides a lot of energy off the ball.

Those are traits that have made Dominik Szoboszlai such a key cog in the system this season and they could help Rigg fit in seamlessly at Anfield.

It seems like Liverpool are ramping up their efforts to bring him to the club as well with the iPaper reporting that Liverpool are ready to battle Everton for his services.

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This could be a transfer battle of the ages but Hughes should not really need to do much persuading here. There's only one choice to make if Everton and Liverpool both knock on your door.