Jurgen Klopp reacts to Liverpool decision to end interest in Jude Bellingham

Jurgen Klopp insists he is comfortable to continue working under the financial limitations that influenced Liverpool’s decision to pull out of the race to sign Jude Bellingham this summer.

The England international is destined to be this summer’s most high-profile transfer target for Europe’s heavyweight clubs.

Liverpool and Klopp had hoped to rival the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid and were preparing to lead something of a charm offensive in a bid to persuade Bellingham that Anfield was the right place for him to continue his rapid development.

Former captain Steven Gerrard had suggested earlier this year that he would be willing to sit down with the Borussia Dortmund star and pitch the merits of a move to Liverpool, while Bellingham’s England teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson have spoken effusively about him in recent months.

Reports earlier this week, however, confirmed Liverpool were reluctantly ready to drop their interest given the likely £130million fee involved, coupled with their need to almost totally overhaul their midfield engine room in the summer.

Speaking ahead of Monday night’s game against Leeds United at Elland Road, Klopp was asked for his response to missing out on Bellingham and gave a measured response.

‘Why do we constantly talk about things we theoretically cannot have?’ he said. ‘We cannot have six players in the summer and every one is £100million for example. Everybody would say that’s kind of clear.

‘You have to realise what you can do and then work with that. How much money do we have available and work with it and that’s the job you have to do.

‘We are not children. When you ask a five-year-old at Christmas what do you want for Christmas and they tell you I want to have a Ferrari you wouldn’t say that’s a good idea.

‘You would say no it’s too expensive and anyway you cannot drive it.

‘That’s how it is. If this kid is then unhappy his whole life because he cannot get a Ferrari it would be a really sad life.

‘It’s just what can you do and then you do it and then work with that. There’s nothing else to say.

‘This was always how I worked. Whatever I wanted and what we needed we try absolutely everything to get it. But there are moments when you have to accept this is no possible for us. Then you step aside and do different stuff.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news onFacebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Source: Read Full Article