‘It’s a BIG risk’: Didi Hamann warns Liverpool to ‘be careful’ in their pursuit of £150m-rated Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham… as he insists the England midfielder does NOT have the ability of Steven Gerrard
Didi Hamann has insisted Liverpool must ‘be careful’ in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham.
The Premier League side still see the England midfielder as their main summer target, but he is one of the most-wanted players in world football, with Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid also interested.
But Hamann told Talksport that paying £140-150million for the 19-year-old is a ‘big risk’, and also claimed he does not have the ability of club legend Steven Gerrard.
Didi Hamann has insisted Liverpool must ‘be careful’ in pursuit of Jude Bellingham (pictured)
The Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder is the Reds’ top target in the summer window
He said: ‘I’d be careful with Bellingham right now. He’s an exceptional talent, he showed that at the World Cup, but if Dortmund ask for £100-million odd, £140-150 million, it’s a big risk as well.
‘With Bellingham he’s got to find a position. He models himself of Steven Gerrard but I don’t think he’s got the ability and pace going forward like Gerrard has.
‘I think you need to wait and see where he finds his spot in the midfield two or midfield three in the future, and to pay £150million for an 18 or 19-year-old, I think it’s a big risk.’
But the former Liverpool midfielder claimed signing him for £140-150m would be a ‘big risk’
The German, who won the Champions League with the club in 2005, also added that Bellingham does not have the ‘ability or pace going forward’ of club legend Steven Gerrard
Manager Jurgen Klopp hailed Bellingham as ‘exceptional’ after his brilliant World Cup with the Three Lions, but admitted he ‘doesn’t like to talk about money’, with a player of Bellingham’s talents potentially commanding a nine-figure fee.
But Hamann went on to say he approves of Liverpool’s pursuit of PSV and Holland forward Cody Gakpo, after Klopp’s side agreed a £44m deal with the Dutch side.
He added: ‘They have needed a player like him for the last few years. I don’t think they have enough of a goal threat from midfield. They are always a threat from set-pieces and that will be strengthened with his size and physicality… He is a great addition and I hope we see a lot of him in the next few weeks and months.’
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