Liverpool dealt £124M Bellingham blow ahead of Real Madrid clash

Liverpool's hopes of signing Jude Bellingham have been dealt a serious blow if reports from Spain are accurate.

Widespread reports in 2023 have indicated that Liverpool are the frontrunners to sign Bellingham this summer.

While covering the Champions League for CBS, Thierry Henry even said: "Everyone knows Bellingham wants to play for Liverpool."

Bellingham has yet to commit his future to any of his suitors, with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester City the most serious about signing the teenager.

Jurgen Klopp is preparing his players to mount an unlikely comeback over Madrid on Wednesday evening.

The Reds trail 5-2 on aggregate after throwing away a 2-0 lead in the Round of 16 first leg at Anfield.

But it could get worse for Liverpool with Diario AS reporting that Madrid are ready to pay Borussia Dortmund a huge sum for Bellingham this summer.

They claim that Los Blancos are prepared to offer a package worth £124 million to add even more quality to Real Madrid's midfield.

This quality was on display for Liverpool to witness firsthand as the likes of Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga dismantled Klopp's struggling side.

Adding to Diario AS's update, a claim from Cadena SER suggests that Madrid lead the race to sign Bellingham. The English prodigy wants to join a club competing in the Champions League next season and Liverpool are in serious danger of not qualifying.

After losing 1-0 to relegation-threatened Bournemouth on Saturday, Liverpool dropped back below Newcastle United after the Magpies beat Wolves 2-1.

It's likely that the success of Liverpool's summer transfer window will be judged primarily on whether or not FSG can complete a deal to sign Bellingham.

Even signing the exciting midfielder will not be enough given the rapid stagnation of this squad since the end of last season.

There have been suggestions that Liverpool could sign both Bellingham and Mason Mount (or someone like James Maddison) which would be a fantastic step in the right direction for Liverpool.