Liverpool are set to make a move for Borussia Dortmundโs Jude Bellingham next summer, but Glen Johnson has suggested 2 alternatives if an agreement canโt be reached with the Bundesliga outfit.
After spending heavily on Darwin Nuรฑez, Calvin Ramsay, and Fabio Carvalho, Liverpool have decided to postpone their pursuit of a new star midfielder.
The engine room of Jรผrgen Kloppโs Liverpool side is ageing, with Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, and James Milner all the wrong side of 30.
As such, a player the club have long admired has been touted to make the switch to Anfield next summer โ Jude Bellingham.
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However, any such move for the former Birmingham City man would be pricey, and thereโll be a plethora of suitors for him.
Should Liverpool fail to persuade him to move to Merseyside, speaking to GGrecon, Glen Johnson has recommended his former club make a move for Declan Rice or Nicolo Barella.ย
Johnson believes Rice would be an ideal replacement for Jordan Henderson, saying the West Ham midfielder would โfit that roleโ which Henderson fulfils in the Liverpool squad โperfectly.โ
Henderson is not out of contract with the Anfield club until 2025, and is the captain of Jรผrgen Kloppโs side, but Johnson believes the Englishman could look at what โSadio Manรฉ has done and leaveโ Liverpool at some point.
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Rice is one of the Premier Leagueโs most coveted talents, and Johnson is right to suggest heโd suit the role Jordan Henderson currently plays at Liverpool.
West Ham are reluctant to sell at the moment, but could be next summer when the Reds are hunting for a new midfielder.
Barella would be a very different option.
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He has been linked with a Liverpool switch, potentially in some form of swap deal involving Naby Keita, and Johnson notes the Italian would add much needed โgoals and grab assistsโ at Anfield.
Bellingham remains Liverpoolโs priority. If he does leave Dortmund next summer, Liverpool would appear to be his most likely destination.
However, a lot can change in the space of a year, and Liverpool would be wise to be keeping tabs on Johnsonโs suggested alternatives.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics:ย Jude Bellingham, Liverpool, Transfers, Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours