My comment was sarcastic 
It’s clear our model is based on overpaying after a player has fulfiled his potential to a point elsewhere, rather than take the risk ourself of them not developing.
The more grinding point of that article says we tried to sign him before he went professional at Birmingham and would have had to pay £9k compensation… Imagine that!
Bellingham joined Dortmund in 2020 and he had an automatic contract extension until 2025 when he turned 18 last year.
So he is basically on his first contract with them.
My biggest hope is that there is some kind of a loophole to leave them for a ‘low’ fee that was agreed when he joined them in 2020.
The Athletic article says there’s no exit clause fee like there was for Haaland.
Haaland repeatedly left money on the table at every step of his development to take the steps he thought were better for his development, and to allow him to retain control over his development. It’s partly a reflection of the confidence he has in himself, but partly the sort of long term career planning and salary deferment that tends to only be available to kids of wealthy parents.
Even if it were just one I think that kind of fee is nuts and beyond what we’d entertain.
Certainly think it needs to be at two though with Ox, Naby, Milner and Arthur currently not contracted to be here next season. If that is the case we’re going to need to find a bargain to come in alongside Bellingham or start planning moves elsewhere.
Has to be
Bellingham or an alternative
AND
Melo or an alternative
Anything less in quantity would be stupid.
Quality over quantity in my eyes, thus Milner and Ox extension is the only right solution.
I feel like it’s time for someone to list the ages and injury records of all of our midfield players again…
Too similar. And neither is good enough in the single pivot 6
I agree. I was just using language similar to James Pearce, as it is the vernacular around transfers. But yes, the reality will likely be as you say - Bellingham has a preferred destination, and leaves it between clubs to agree a fee.
Dortmund saying the asking price is €150M is a negotiating tactic.
But if the buying club know that Bellingham wants to go to them, they have some leverage to knock Dortmund down on that ridiculous fee.
I honestly do feel we need to consider an evolution to a double pivot to get more attackers on the pitch, and also to protect against the counter attack, given our attacking fullbacks.
Further, a double pivot is easier to buy for, as you don’t quite need to unearth the rare-as-rocking-horse-shit-specialist-superstar, in order to have a perfectly good double pivot.
Edit: you might also get some additional useful longevity out of some of our older players - Henderson, Thiago, Fabinho - if they are playing in a double pivot.
I have on good authority that Jude will definitely join us. If it does not happen in real life, I will make it happen in FM.
And regarding 150m, while I personally do not think Jude is worth that money despite all the potential and performances he has, it is ultimately left to the other idiot clubs what they are going to offer. If for example, Real is willing to offer 150m and even if Jude tells Dortmund that he will only go to Liverpool, that does not mean Dortmund’s arm is going to be twisted for say if we offer 70m citing that he is into the last year of contract. Its more likely we will need to close the gap to what the other clubs are willing to offer. Its not going to be an easy negotiation that hopefully will define Ward’s era but that is on the premise that Jude specifically wants to come to us or else if he is open to clubs like Real etc, we are going to be blown out of the water with these reckless club spendings and I will be on the side of the club even if it means losing out on a very good player.
In my book, there is a 99% chance that he’ll join Abu Dhabi or another club in that ilk. Haaland has shown how it gets done in terms of personal advantages, and there is absolutely no reason to think that another extremely good, yet overhyped young player won’t follow suit.
Forget his potential transfer fee for a moment (even though it will be eye-watering): his wages will be astronomical, comparable to Haaland’s.
And neither Klopp nor fsg want to play that game, rightly so imo.
Ergo: forget this player, he won’t play for us. Klopp and co will probably look for a player like Caicedo. Or they’ll take a player out of their hat whom we haven’t even heard of yet. I’m totally comfortable with that approach.
Except for the fact that there could be a host of reasons that he wouldn’t want to follow suit? Like preferring to play for an institution in the sport instead of a sportwashing front, or getting more playing time at LFC, or wanting to play for Klopp instead of Guardiola.
If it comes down strictly to money, Bellingham will go elsewhere. If he has other considerations in mind, we have a real chance.
In theory, you’re right. But experience shows that 99% of players follow the money. I’m not saying that it is out of the question that he’ll join us, but the chance is minimal imo.
Totally agree 
I always find it amazing that people shit the bed over this kind of posturing. Dortmund makes it clear they want €150m for Bellingham. Loads of fans go ‘Right, move on. He isn’t coming Liverpool won’t pay that’, while forgetting it’s only about a year ago that Dortmund’s €120m demand for Sancho ended up as a deal worth about €80m.
“When you speak to people at Liverpool the caveat is: will the numbers get too big” James Pearce
Unless it’s Jude 