Liverpool 'favourites' for 'powerful' £30m star at Anfield | OneFootball

Liverpool are the current favourites to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund and likely brought in Arthur Melo on loan as a stopgap before they move for the England midfielder, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Reds spent over £95 million during the summer transfer window but Jurgen Klopp will soon have the opportunity to strengthen further at Anfield in the new year.

What is the latest news on Bellingham?

Liverpool are making progress in their attempts to sign Bellingham from Dortmund, according to Football Insider, ahead of a potential move next summer.

The report states that the Reds are looking to tie up a deal early to guarantee the 19-year-old’s arrival on Merseyside before their rivals have a chance to pounce.

Unsurprisingly, they are not the only club eyeing a move, with reports in Spain detailing that Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United are all interested.

Bellingham was signed by Dortmund for just £30 million from Birmingham City two years ago and is now valued at £132 million, and has been dubbed as a ‘powerful’ presence by Roy Keane.

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What has Sheth said on Bellingham?

Sheth understands that Liverpool remain favourites to land the England international and likely only signed Arthur as a temporary solution in midfield.

The Sky Sports reporter told GIVEMESPORT: “It seems that they are the favourites to sign Jude Bellingham and, in the end, they went and signed Arthur Melo.

“Now, that might suggest that Jude Bellingham is the long-term target for Liverpool and they probably accepted, given how late it was in the window and Borussia Dortmund’s reticence to sell two of their big players in the same transfer window, that it was going to be impossible to get him in this transfer window.

“Maybe they thought: ‘let’s not spend big money on a midfielder, let’s just keep our powder dry at the moment, but bring in another player who can bring strength and experience to the squad’.”

How has Arthur performed this season?

The Brazilian signed on loan from Juventus in the dying moments of the summer transfer window but is yet to make much of an impact.

He is yet to appear in the Premier League for the Reds and has been limited to a 13-minute cameo in their 4-1 thrashing from Napoli in the Champions League.

However, in an attempt to boost his chances, Arthur has employed the help of extra fitness staff to get him up to match sharpness and played in the Reds’ Under-21 side against Rochdale in the Papa John’s Trophy this week.