Why Liverpool need to sign Jude Bellingham this summer

With Liverpool reportedly in the market for a midfielder this summer transfer window, here is why I think the club should sign Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham.

With Liverpool missing out on Aurelien Tchouameni, who is set to join Real Madrid this summer, the Reds will need to turn their attention to someone else to strengthen their midfield next season.

Despite James Milner signing a new deal and Naby Keita's new contract currently in the works, Jurgen Klopp needs a world-class right-sided midfielder who can play in that position for the next decade.

It is the one position that we have struggled with for years. Jordan Henderson has been okay there, but he has started to decline and it's evident we need a solid replacement.

A lot of people thought that Tchouameni was the perfect man for the job, but despite Klopp personally calling the Frenchman, he has chosen to play for Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid next season.

The 22-year-old can play in central defensive midfield and he can also play in a more advanced role, something that the Reds needed.

Missing out on Tchouameni is a huge blow, but he's not the only midfielder that Liverpool have been linked with.

It has been reported that the Reds are interested in PSV's defensive midfielder Ibrahim Sangare.

The Ivorian has a £31 million release clause, which will allow him to leave this summer if Liverpool wished to act on their interest.

Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has also been named as an alternative for missing out on Tchouameni.

However, any deal for the England international would likely cost in the region of £60 million.

Even though we're linked with a plethora of midfield options, the one I'd go for is Bellingham.

The 18-year-old is the perfect signing for Liverpool. He ticks every box. He can play in a defensive role or as a box-to-box midfielder.

He has also played at the very top level since he joined Borussia Dortmund in 2020 for a reported fee of £22.5 million.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for Bellingham in recent times and a report from Paul Joyce confirmed the Reds' interest in him.

Despite that being the case, Joyce said that Bellingham is unlikely to be allowed to leave until the end of next season, due to the sale of Erling Haaland this summer.

However, James Pearce of The Athletic reported that it would take over £80 million for the German side to consider selling him this summer, even though they lost Haaland.

Money talks, it always has done and it always will.

Dortmund will have a price tag in mind for Bellingham and if Liverpool meet it then they'll surely consider moving the Englishman on, if not accept it.

A fee of £80 million for a player of his quality is a steal in my eyes, too. Even though Bellingham is only 18, he would come straight into our starting lineup and improve it drastically.

He could also play for Liverpool for the next decade and be a mainstay in what Klopp is building on Merseyside.

I'd go all out for Bellingham this summer after missing out on Tchouameni. He is what we have needed for years and if we don't sign him this summer, then multiple other clubs will be in the race for his signature in 12 months time.

In my eyes, he will play for Liverpool one day. But, when that is, I'm not sure. Hopefully it's sooner rather than later.