Hamann warns Liverpool that Bellingham transfer is a ‘big risk’; insists Gakpo can be Klopp’s Joelinton | OneFootball

Didi Hamann warns Liverpool that signing Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham for a huge amount of money comes with “big risk”.

The Reds have been consistently linked with Bellingham for most of 2022 with Jurgen Klopp looking to strengthen his midfield in the next couple of transfer windows.

Recent reports have indicated that Bellingham will cost any interested party £130m in the summer with Borussia Dortmund demanding top dollar after the England international starred at the World Cup.

Liverpool brought in Arthur Melo on a season-long loan deal from Juventus on deadline day in the summer but the Brazilian has been out injured for months and is unlikely to form part of their long-term plans.

But Hamann reckons Liverpool run the “risk” of overspending on Bellingham with the Dortmund star lacking some “ability and pace going forward”.

“I’d be careful with Bellingham right now,” Hamann told talkSPORT.

“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.

“I think 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 play £150million for an 18 or 19-year-old, I think it’s a big risk.”

Liverpool have already lined up one January signing with PSV Eindhoven confirming on Boxing Day that they had agreed a fee with the Reds for Cody Gakpo, with the Netherlands international heading to Merseyside to finalise the transfer.

And Hamann is a big fan of that deal with the former Germany international insisting Liverpool could use Gakpo in midfield like Newcastle United do with Joelinton.

“They have needed a player like him for the last few years,” Hamann added.

“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. And in midfield, at times I feel they lack a bit of physicality.

“They don’t have a player who has the physicality that he has got. I always look at Joelinton as a player in the mould Liverpool needed because he can drive from midfield, he can head the ball, very good technically, and he has got a bit of pace about him as well.

“He is a great addition and I hope we see a lot of him in the next few weeks and months.”