The impending big-money move of Borussia Dortmund wunderkind and England international star Jude Bellingham will undoubtedly grab all the headlines in the upcoming summer transfer window as the mercurial Die Schwarzgelben midfielder looks set to make the next step of his blossoming career.
Despite Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl remains keen to extend Bellingham’s contract at Signal Iduna Park, it is widely accepted that a wealth of interest from outside the Bundesliga from clubs the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, and of course, Liverpool.
Borussia Dortmund director Kehl tells ZDF on Jude Bellingham: “I will try to extend his contract, yes”. 🚨🟡⚫️ #BVB
“We have not spoken with Jude and his family yet. The player is relaxed and focussed on football”. pic.twitter.com/tU7Dlfkqia
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 25, 2023
Jürgen Klopp’s Premier League title challengers are sure to play their hand for the 19-year-old, his price tag may be far too high to secure what would be a signing that could bring a massive boost to the club’s fortunes on the pitch.
Desperate is the need for the Anfield outfit to secure considerable refreshment via the transfer window in the wake of a frustrating 2022-23 campaign both at home and on the continent, as well as squad turnover either due to expiring contracts or possible sales, the price tag that comes with Bellingham – likely to go as high as £150m – might far exceed what they are realistically able to mobilize on the financial front.
There is plenty of scope to suggest that Klopp needs at least four of five both in midfield and defense to sort out the mess that has been the current season, in order to put to rest any notion that – for the third time in his managerial history – the German tactician’s preferred approach has not run of out petrol.
Given the number of signings and their likely higher fees, that the club will have to consider, a Premier League record fee for Bellingham may not be financially feasible without serious support from the club brass as well as a handful of notable sales.
With that in mind, 101 Great Goals looks at five alternatives to Jude Bellingham should the England ace either choose greener pastures or if Liverpool chooses a different financial journey.
📰 Table Of Contents
Bellingham overview & head-to-head data comparison
What makes Jude Bellingham so good despite still being just 19-year-olds is the notion that there are few areas of his game where he struggles. More directly, the England international is as close to a perfect midfield profile as you will see on both sides of the ball, which is expressly why he is sure to be one of the most coveted signings in recent memory.
To try and find a replacement for him via the market is no easy task given how strong he is defensively and in the press, his technical quality and intelligence when on the ball, and also his knack for driving forward to offer a solution in the final third. Though the term “generational” has been used far more broadly than I believe it should in recent years, Bellingham certainly fits that mold to the very ground; and the data proves it.
In truth, it is likely borderline impossible to find a like-for-like replacement, so some sacrifices would have to be made in some aspect of each candidate’s overall profile, but overall, some interesting findings are listed below in the vein of Enzo Le Fee, Lovro Majer, Lazar Samardžić, Mason Mount, and Dominik Szoboszlai.
GCA90 = Goal Creating Actions/90
SCA90 = Shot Creating Actions/90
Comp.Prog.Pass = Completed Progressive Passes
Rec.Prog.Pass = Received Progressive Passes
Succ.Take-Ons = Successful Take-Ons
Touches in Pen = Touches in the penalty area
Mason Mount (Chelsea)
An interesting candidate given the uncertain nature of his future at Chelsea on account of Todd Boehly’s sheer boredom with money, Bellingham’s England international colleague Mason Mount could tick a lot of boxes.
It’s hard to judge the Cobham Academy product on the back of the current season for obvious reasons, but at his very best, Mount has been one of Chelsea’s best performers in the last few seasons. Tactically versatile while offering a threat as a goalscorer but also as a creative outlet, Mount could certainly give Liverpool goals from midfield; something they have lacked for quite some time. Questions would surround his defensive contributions, but that could possibly be mitigated on a tactical level. There is no telling what Chelsea would charge, however, despite one year left on his contract after this season.
Lovro Majer (Stade Rennais)
A somewhat unknown quantity to many, Croatian international Lovro Majer featured for his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on the back of establishing himself in France’s top flight at Stade Rennais after five seasons with NK Lokomotiva Zagreb and Dinamo Zagreb respectively.
More of an attacking midfielder than a central box-to-box player, Majer has some of the best overall creative numbers of any on the shortlist while also being quite progressive in distribution and when he is on the ball. His physical profile is such that he can withstand operating in a press-based system and does get stuck into physical battles comfortably. With a market value of about £20m, he is certainly far more affordable at the time of writing.
Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig)
The darling of Hungarian football and a key attacking outlet at RB Leipzig under Marco Rose, Dominik Szoboslzai rose to prominence at sister club RB Salzburg among may a blockbuster long-range effort before he left for Saxony in the summer of 2021. After recovering from injury, the 22-year-old is back at his best and staring in the Bundesliga as RBL continues to push in its attempt to upset the establishment.
Szoboszlai ranks as the most creative on the shortlist while also being a goal throat – typically from outside the box given his profile and strengths in that particular area of his game – while also showboating a capability to progress play via picking the right pass as being a hallmark of how RBL conduct their business. Chiefly, that would suit Liverpool to the ground given the attacking options on the books at Anfield, and though his market value is higher than Majer, the chance to play in the Premier League may be too good to pass up at some stage.
Enzo Le Fee (FC Lorient)
A name that many may not have considered at first glance, Lorient academy graduate and French U21 international Enzo Le Fee continues to shine bright in Brittany with his hometown club and has already made 117 league appearances since 2019, with the 23-year-old patrolling the midfield during a 2022-23 campaign that sees Lorient vying for European football next season.
His creative numbers are solid by comparison, and his progression capabilities even more, but where Le Fee stacks up against Bellingham and the rest on the defensive side of the ball. Clearly unafraid to get stuck in and being strong in the tackle, Le Fee could shine in a Klopp pressing system just ahead of Fabinho as sort of a “bell-ringer” when it comes to regaining possession, aiding the Brazilian in that aspect of play. His ability to be creative from deep could also unlock those vaunted Liverpool counter-attacks, and with a market value of just £10m, it could be a move worth exploring.
Lazar Samardžić (Udinese Calcio)
To close out the shortlist I took a look at upcoming-Serbian international and Udinese midfielder Lazar Samardžić. Though the German-born outfield player struggled to find his footing at both Hertha BSC and RB Leipzig through no fault of his own, the Berlin native landed in Friuli last season at a Udine institution that has done so well to develop talent that flies under the radar.
Across the last two seasons, Samardžić has shone in the northeast of Italy while boasting a versatile midfield profile capable of slotting into both the number 8 and number 10 roles as well as residually on the right flank in a four-man midfield. His creativity and potential goal throat are both considerable, but Samardžić’s development on the defensive side of the ball would certainly require work if it is to withstand a Klopp schematic. Still, there would be little-to-no financial risk for a player whose current value sits at a paltry £4m. With the buzz that surrounds him, it could certainly end in a transfer coup of note.
