Responsibilities for Liverpool’s Failed Jude Bellingham Pursuit: A Joint Accountability of Jurgen Klopp and FSG

Liverpool’s Bellingham Bungle: Klopp’s Words vs Reality

Last summer, Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp emphasized that the club did not require another midfielder, despite journalists repeatedly asking about it. However, he later signed Arthur on loan after naming nine midfielders in his squad. The situation took a surprising turn when academy player Stefan Bajcetic became their best midfielder. Klopp then admitted that they had tried to sign Aurelien Tchouameni, who chose Real Madrid. It was not until recently that reports claimed Liverpool was interested in Jude Bellingham, who seemed interested in the move. But has the pursuit gone off track?

Liverpool’s inability to sign Bellingham, despite him being on their wishlist for ages, has raised questions about Klopp and ownership’s responsibility. Owners Fenway Sports Group are accused of being too risk-averse, causing the club’s squad to be unbalanced in terms of age profile. Additionally, Klopp’s insistence on keeping Jordan Henderson at the club longer, despite his declining years, calls into question his loyalty to players. The lack of investments has left the club’s squad short, and the season often ends in narrow misses for them. With no Champions League football, Liverpool moves further away from Bellingham, affecting their chances of attaining him.

Liverpool could have signed Bellingham, a generational talent that would have been the club and England’s captain, wearing the No.8 shirt. But their reluctance to invest in midfielders and their reliance on talented, unprepared youngsters have left them exposed. The club now needs to produce a strong performance in the summer transfer window to avoid another season that is written off. Klopp and the owners need to perfect their strategic approach to investing in players, avoiding making expensive mistakes.

In summary, Liverpool’s Bellingham bungle shows that a manager’s words in public are never the case behind closed doors. Klopp’s initial denial of the need for midfielders turned out to be untrue. The club’s owners and Klopp must take responsibility for their risk-averse approach, resulting in the club’s squad becoming unbalanced in terms of age profile. The inability to invest in midfielders has left the squad short of the required level, resulting in narrow misses in previous seasons. To avoid repeating this pattern, the club needs to invest wisely while setting aside loyalty to aging players.



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