Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has indirectly played down Liverpool's chances of signing Jude Bellingham this summer.
Bellingham has become one of the most sought-after teenagers in world football and has seen his price skyrocket due to his displays for England and Borussia Dortmund.
Widespread speculation about his next move has only grown stronger over the months, and Liverpool are rumored to be one of the front runners for his services next year.
However, this week local journalists have poured cold water on the links, claiming that the six-time European champions have "cooled their interest" in the Birmingham native.
The 19-year-old's price tag is set to be north of £120m, meaning that only a select few clubs can afford to sign him this summer.
Liverpool has reportedly opted to look at other targets like Chelsea's Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, and others to work within the club's budget.
Today, Klopp was asked about signing Bellingham and essentially admitted, without naming him, that the deal would be very difficult to do. Klopp emphasized that they have to realize what they can do and work with.
Jurgen Klopp responds to the news that Liverpool have 𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 their interest in Jude Bellingham ❌
"We are not children. Ask a 5-year-old what they want for Christmas and they tell you a Ferrari, you wouldn't say that's a good idea." pic.twitter.com/fOZBOyPJue— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 14, 2023
"I have nothing to say on that," Klopp said in a press conference on Friday. "We don’t speak about players we sign or do not sign, so we don’t now speak about this kind of speculation. There is nothing to say about it.
"It is not about Jude Bellingham, my answer now, but I never understood why we talk about things we theoretically cannot have. We cannot have six players in a summer, everyone for £100million. Everyone would say that is clear.
"You have to realise what you can do and then work with it. That is your job. We are not children. When you ask a five-year-old what they want for Christmas and they tell you, I don’t know, a Ferrari, you wouldn’t say that’s a good idea, you would say that is too expensive and anyway you cannot drive it.
"If this kid then was really unhappy because he didn’t get a Ferrari, it would be a really sad life.
"You look what you can do, and you work with that. That is always how I worked. What we need and what we want, we try everything to try to get but there are moments where we have to accept and step aside and do different things."
Liverpool plays Leeds away on Monday at 8 pm.
