Transfer Centre

Liverpool owners 'want to sign Jude Bellingham as parting gift'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 08 November 2022

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group reportedly want to sign Jude Bellingham as a parting gift following reports that John W Henry is planning to sell the club.

Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group are reportedly planning to sign Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham as a parting gift before they leave the club.

On Monday afternoon, it was reported that principal owner John W Henry had put the Reds up for sale, 12 years after taking control of the Anfield giants, but a takeover is not expected to materialize imminently.

A statement released to The Athletic confirmed that the American company were looking for new investors, saying: "There have been a number of recent changes of ownership and rumours of changes in ownership at EPL clubs and inevitably we are asked regularly about Fenway Sports Group's ownership in Liverpool.

"FSG has frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders in Liverpool. FSG has said before that under the right terms and conditions we would consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club."

FSG have overseen significant changes on Merseyside since arriving in October 2010, notably the hiring of Jurgen Klopp and a sustained period of success in the years that have followed.

However, the American owners have also come under fire over the past couple of years and were criticized by fans for a lack of investment in the summer transfer window.

Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring for Borussia Dortmund on September 14, 2022 © Reuters

The Reds spent big to bring Darwin Nunez to the club, while also concluding deals for Fabio Carvalho and Calvin Ramsay, as well as signing Arthur on loan from Juventus.

Dortmund and England starlet Bellingham has been a long-term target of Liverpool's, and the Reds are expected to be one of several clubs in the race for the 19-year-old in 2023.

Now, a report from Marca - via FourFourTwo - claims that Liverpool's owners are confident of bringing Bellingham to Anfield as a parting gift during their final transfer window at the helm.

Real Madrid were initially regarded as the favourites to sign the former Birmingham City youngster, but the report now claims that Liverpool are at the head of the queue.

Furthermore, Borussia Dortmund's supposed asking price of £130m for Bellingham is thought to be wide of the mark, and the Black and Yellows would instead accept an £87m figure for the youngster.

Liverpool owner John W Henry pictured in October 2015 © Reuters

Real Madrid allegedly believe that a deal for Bellingham would be difficult to complete and are not willing to match Dortmund's asking price, and as a result Liverpool are now the frontrunners.

Manchester United and Manchester City are expected to rival Liverpool for Bellingham's signature, but the teenager supposedly has no interest in a move to Chelsea.

Bellingham has enjoyed another fruitful campaign at Westfalenstadion, scoring nine goals and setting up two more in 20 matches across the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB-Pokal.

The 19-year-old has now totalled 19 goals and 20 assists in 110 appearances for Dortmund since joining in 2020, and he remains contracted to the German giants until the summer of 2025.

Bellingham is expected to be part of the England squad for the 2022 World Cup, with Gareth Southgate set to make his highly-anticipated announcement on Thursday November 10.