Liverpool boss Klopp gives his honest thoughts on Bellingham and his World Cup campaign amid transfer links

Topics: Jurgen Klopp, Jude Bellingham, Liverpool, Dortmund, English Premier League, Transfer

Will the Englishman's impressive Qatar 2022 campaign price the Reds out of a move? Klopp answered that and many other questions regarding the Dortmund sensation.

Jude Bellingham is one of the hottest young talents in world football, if not the most sought-after. The Englishman has taken the Bundesliga by storm since moving to Dortmund and at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 19-year-old showed tremendous quality and maturity both on and off the pitch despite only being a teenager.

And due to the rumors linking the Three Lions ace with Premier League giants Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp was bound to be asked about the midfielder following his Qatar 2022 heroics. With the Merseyside giants returning to action on Boxing Day, the German boss was questioned on his thoughts on the former Birmingham City starlet during his pre-match press conference.

Given that Liverpool are one of the favorites to sign Bellingham, Klopp's answers were destined to make the headlines. However, the Anfield tactician chose his words wisely and refused to discuss the issue of the player's price tag and whether the Reds can afford him, instead opting to focus on the midfielder and his tremendous quality.

"I don't like to always talk about money when we talk about a player like Jude. I think everybody agrees he's just exceptional," Jurgen said, as per Goal.

"I imagine somebody who has no clue about football, or who didn't watch it for a while, if you asked them 'how old do you think Jude Bellingham is?' nobody would get even close! They'd say '28, 29' or whatever, because he's that mature.

"He played an exceptional World Cup. Exceptional. He's good at so many things and has to improve in so many other things, but if I had to describe him I would say that the things he can do already are difficult to learn, and the things he has to improve are easy to learn. That makes him a really good player!"

"I'm not saying anything new. I thought that for two or three years since he broke through at Dortmund. But I have no idea what [his World Cup performances] does for the money side of it," the 55-year-old added

"I just think that if you, from an English point of view, want to do him a favour, just don't talk too much about money, don't throw too many hurdles in his way. That would be really cool, wherever he ends up!"

The Anfield supporters are understandably keen on signing Jude and seeing the midfielder cozying up with Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold in Qatar was exciting. However, there is growing pessimism due to the hefty price tag being mentioned.

Additionally, with Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Manchester United eyeing a move, many fear that the Reds could be priced out of a deal for the Dortmund ace, a belief that is exacerbated by Liverpool being in danger of missing out on a top-four finish this season.

However, Klopp isn't losing sleep over this, saying: "It's very important for the club. It's our main target now. From a transfer point of view? I think we have a good chance of qualifying generally. This year, not 100 percent, but 100 percent we are contenders for the next few years.

"And if you ask a player [to sign] and he says 'well next year you are not in the Champions League, so I would rather go to another club', I am not sure I would want this player any more, to be honest.

"I understand it, I want to be in the Champions League all the time, but for the moment we have two pathways still to qualify for next year, and as long as that's the case I see ourselves as a proper contender."

Salah and Co. resume their campaign on Boxing Day, traveling to Aston Villa in what should be an interesting fixture. The FA Cup holders currently sit in sixth and are seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham but have been finding their rhythm lately.

However, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League will be a huge target for the club given that they are 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal. Should they miss out on a top-four finish, then their pursuit of Jude Bellingham will get complicated.